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This article was first published 13 years ago

Bobby Jindal takes on Obama in new book

Last updated on: November 13, 2010 11:04 IST

Image: Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and wife Supriya
Photographs: Reuters

In his latest book, India-born Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has criticised United States President Barack Obama for being not connected to ground realities.

In his book titled Leadership in Crisis which is all set to hit the stands on November 15, Jindal criticises Obama for the way he handled the oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico.

Jindal slams Obama by saying that "political posturing becomes more important than reality," the Politico reported.

Jindal recounts a pair of private conversations with Obama that paint the US President as consumed with how his actions were being perceived, it said.

Obama 'not connected to reality on the ground'

Image: Bobby Jindal

"Jindal has criticised the administration in the past over the spill, but that he would do so at the outset of his book suggests he wants to raise his national profile and perhaps seek national office," Politico reported.

Jindal, 39, however has refused speculations that he is in race for the 2010 presidential elections.

In an interview with Politico, Jindal argued that Obama's response to the disaster was a metaphor for what he described as the administration's more fundamental problem. "They're not connected to reality on the ground," Jindal said.

In a special report, the Fox News on Friday reported that Jindal's experience would be his highest selling point as a potential Republican candidate. If Jindal were to run for presidential election and win, he would be the youngest president in America's history.

Bobby Jindal takes on Obama in new book

Image: Nikki Randhawa Haley

The son of immigrants from Punjab, Jindal is the first Indian American governor of an US State. He was also only the second Indian American Congressman early this decade after Dalip Singh Saund in 1950s.

This year, nearly half-a-dozen Indian Americans were in the race for a seat in the House of Representatives, but none could make it. However, his Republican colleague Nikki Randhawa Haley made history in the November 2 mid-term polls when she won the elections for the post of governor of South Carolina.

Both Haley and Jindal are considered to be rising stars of the Republican Party. Jindal was the Republican response to Obama's maiden State of the Union address soon after he was sworn in as the US President in January 2009.

'I've got the best job I will ever have'

Image: US President Barack Obama
Photographs: Reuters

However, many thought that Jindal was quite unimpressive against Obama's oratory skills.

Considered to be a precursor for the 2012 presidential run, Jindal is going on a nationwide book-promotion tour beginning next week, in which he is expected to openly criticise Obama at a time when the latter's popularity ratings are coming down.

"Asked if he'd ever want to be president, Jindal said, "I've got the best job I will ever have."

Pressed on whether he had any desire to return to Washington, Jindal offered a flat 'No'. "Plainly, though, he's interested in joining the political conversation beyond his home state," Politico reported.