Indian origin woman in race for South Carolina`s Governor

Lalit K Jha

Washington, June 23 (PTI) Daughter of a Punjabi Sikh
immigrant from Amritsar, Namrata "Nikki" Randhawa Haley, is
another Bobby Jindal in the making.

Nikki, 37, as she is popularly known, has announced
her candidacy for Republican Party nomination for the Governor
of South Carolina, which will go to poll next year.

Presently, she is a member of the South Carolina House
of Representatives.

If elected, Nikki would be the second Indian American
and first women of the community to be the Governor of a
State, after Bobby Jindal, who is the Governor of Louisiana.

"I know, I am going to make this happen. I am going to
win the race," Nikki told Press Trust of India in an interview
at the Capitol Hill, where she attended a fund raising event
in her support organised by the Indian American Republican
Political Action Committee.

In little over a month of announcing her candidacy,
Nikki has carved a niche for herself in the list of Republican
aspirants and has already received encouraging comments from
top political leaders of the State, including the South
Carolina Governor, Sanford.

"My parents are extremely proud. My husband is very
supportive. My children are excited. My siblings are willing
go out work for me," she said.

"When I started to see issues, they (parents) were the
first cheer leaders to do this," she added.

When asked about the entry of Indian-Americans in US
politics, she said: "I think, Indian American issues are
American issues. We want to get involved earlier because we
have realise that what is happening in government, will affect
us and our children. I think, more young people need to get
involved."

Briefing about her agenda, Nikki said her goal would
be to rein in spending and to provide jobs to people in State,
to try and improve education, and make health care accessible
in South Carolina.

Speaking on the occasion, Tarun Patel, from Asian
American Hotel Owners Association, said community is thrilled
to see a second Indian American running for Governorship,
after Bobby Jindal.

In 2004, Nikki was the first Indian-American
Republican to win a State House seat.

She is recognised as a pro-business leader in the
fight for lower taxes as well as an outspoken advocate for
added accountability in the legislature. PTI