Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean, in emphasising the inclusiveness of the Democratic Party and the big tent it provides, has said besides being the party of Jefferson and Jackson and of Kennedy and King, and of Roosevelt and Clinton, it is also the part of Dalip Singh Saund and Barack Obama [Images] and the party of Kumar Barve and Ashwin Madia.

Saund is the first Indian-American elected to the US Congress in the mid-1950s, Barve, is the longest-serving Indian-American state legislator and Maryland House majority leader and Madia is a Congressional aspirant from Minnesota's 3rd district. The Democratic Party is confident that it will win this open seat in a hitherto Republican-dominated district.

In a message to the Indian-American Leadership Initiative on the release of its first 2008 Almanac of Indian-American Democrats -- which profiles 92 Indian-American office-holders, candidates, operatives, consultants and advocates -- at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Dean said, "These Indian-American Democrats, who belong to the oldest political party in the world, are leading the charge to strengthen our party, elect our candidates and ensure that we build a government that lives up to the ideals that inspired generations of Indian immigrants to make America their home."

"Perhaps these pages include a future DNC chair, perhaps they include the first Indian-American who will manage a presidential campaign, perhaps they include a future Democratic president of the United States," Dean added.

"What is certain is that this almanac will only grow over time as more and more Indian-Americans achieve positions of leadership within our party," Dean predicted.

"That is, fundamentally, the strength of the Democratic Party. The rise of Indian-American Democrats did not happen by accident," he said. "It is not a fortuitous anomaly. It is the direct result of a shared set of values that connect the community and our party."

"It is a testament to the ongoing efforts of organisations like the Indian-American Leadership Initiative to identify, recruit, train, cultivate and develop the next generation of Democratic leaders," Dean declared.

"Indian-Americans play a vital role in the life of our nation and the health of our democracy," he said and "by the power of your involvement and the force of your vote we will continue to transform the Democratic Party and redeem the American dream of opportunity and justice for all."