Jindal set to announce 2016 presidential bid

When he announces his presidential bid, 44-year-old Jindal would join 12 Republican contenders that include political heavyweights like Jeb Bush and Rick Perry.

His expected historic announcement late night Wednesday (US time), however, has failed to generate much enthusiasm among the Indian-Americans - whose annual family income now crosses 100,000 per annum and is among the richest ethnic communities in the US -- because of Jindal’s recent statements in which he sought to distance himself from being an Indian-American.

Repeating his views, Jindal featured on the Federalist Radio Hour <g data-gr-id="29">yesterday,</g> and gave his perspective on the state of the union.

He expressed frustration that President Barack Obama has “been trying to divide us...by gender, by race, by geography, and by religion.” 

“We’re not hyphenated Americans anymore. We’re not African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Indian-Americans or rich and poor Americans,” he asserted. Pointing to his own melting-pot story, Jindal urged Republicans to call for an end to division.

Jindal, an Oxford-educated son of Indian immigrants, said the presidential contest remains “completely open”.

He trumpeted the unifying leadership of South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Senator Tim Scott in the wake of the Charleston tragedy in which a white gunman claimed nine lives.

“What a contrast with our president going out last week trying to score cheap political points,” Jindal said, adding that Obama was “trying to turn this into a political rather than a healing moment.” 

Once a rising star of the Republican Party, the two-term Governor of Louisiana lost most of his shine after his lacklustre performance responding to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address in 2009.

In the past <g data-gr-id="28">two-years</g>, he has worked on his public appearances and has since delivered some impressive speeches.

In his state of Louisiana where he has ruled for nearly seven years, Jindal is highly popular.