Two-term Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, the first ever Indian American to be elected a state governor, is among the shortlisted candidates for Donald Trump’s cabinet, according to a media report.
If appointed, the 45-year-old will be first Indian American to be included in the president’s cabinet. As per a news report in The Wall Street Journal, Jindal is being considered for the position of Secretary of Health along with Ben Carson. His name also figured in the list by Politico whereas it was absent in Buzzfeed’s list of potential cabinet members of the Trump administration.
Both Carson and Jindal are former Republican presidential candidates. While Jindal, after dropping out of the race, endorsed Senator Ted Cruz for the presidency, Carson supported Trump, the winner of the presidential elections.
Jindal, who has been keeping a low profile after dropping out of the Republican presidential primary, did not respond to queries on his possible cabinet position.
On the other hand, it is almost certain that Carson would be a part of Trump’s cabinet. Trump, in the past, has indicated Carson to be his first choice for the position of Heath Secretary.
Jindal has served as a principal adviser to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Bush administration, during which he excelled with his administrative and management skills and later went on to be elected to the House of Representatives for two terms and thereafter as Louisiana governor twice.
Last year, he ran for president, but dropped out of the race early this year following low polling among a crowded GOP aspirants of 17 candidates. During the primaries, Jindal was highly critical of Trump and his policies.
According to a report in the Shreveport Times, Jindal has previously served as the secretary of Department of Health and Hospitals and as a principal adviser to the Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush. He was appointed as the youngest president of the University of Louisiana System in 1999, at age 28. He served as governor of Louisiana from 2008 to 2016.
