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Richard Verma to quit as US envoy before Trump takes charge

US Ambassador Richard Rahul Verma, a political appointee by Obama Administration and the first Indian-American to hold the post, is set to demit office before January 20 when Republican Donald Trump takes over as American President. 

48-year-old Verma, who played a quiet but key role in deepening Indo-US ties, will quit before the President-elect assumes charge as his team said the envoys, who are political appointees, will not be given any “grace period” beyond Trump’s inauguration day. However, there is a possibility that Verma may stay on here in private capacity for few more months so that his children can complete their courses in school in the current academic year.

Sources said Verma will quit the post before Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Verma had played a key role in the Congressional passage of the civil nuclear deal and is a strong advocate of closer Indo-US ties. Breaking from tradition, Trump’s transition team has decided not to give any grace period beyond inauguration day to US envoys who are political appointees of President Barack Obama.

The unusual decision by the transition team could also mean that some of the top US embassies around the world will be left without an ambassador for months, as Trump replaces them with new appointments. 
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