अमेरिका साउथ कैरोलाइना राज्य में गवर्नर पद का चुनाव भारतीय मूल की महिला निक्की हेली ने जीत लिया है. निक्की इस राज्य की पहली महिला गवर्नर हैं. 38 साल की निक्की बैमबर्ग में रहने वाली निम्रता रंधावा की बेटी हैं. अमृतसर से आए उनके मां बाप के दो और बच्चे भी हैं. इससे पहले वह सिले सिलाए कपड़ों के पारिवारिक कारोबार से ही जुड़ी थीं.रिपब्लिकन पार्टी की निक्की को लगभग 51फीसदी वोट मिले जबकि उनके प्रतिद्वंदी विंसेंट शेहीन को लगभग 47 फीसदी मत.ये वो राज्य है जो कुछ दशक पहले तक नस्लभेदी संघर्षों के लिए जाना जाता था.
हम भारतीयों को निक्की हेली की शानदार सफलता पर नाज है .क्योकि यह सन्देश दीपावली का उपहार लेकर आया है ,हमारी ओर से उन्हें ढेर सारी बधाइयाँ एवं शुभकामनाएं .
Haley elected in South Carolina as governor
.By Ames Alexander
Charlotte Observer
Nikki Haley, the tea party favorite who overcame controversy and rose to national prominence this year, was elected South Carolina's first female governor Tuesday.
With more than 90 percent of precincts reporting, the rising Republican star had collected 52 percent of the vote. Democratic state senator Vincent Sheheen had 46 percent, according to the New York Times. Sheheen congratulated Haley Tuesday night, saying the race had been "oh, oh, so close."
In a state that has elected only white males to the Governor's Mansion, the former state lawmaker's election is historic.
Haley, the daughter of Sikh immigrants, will be the state's first nonwhite governor - and the nation's second Indian-American governor.
Early this year, Haley won endorsements from GOP luminaries including Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney and former S.C. first lady Jenny Sanford. She went on to beat three better-financed, better-established opponents in the GOP primary.
Polls showed that Haley had lost some of her edge during the final weeks of her campaign. But running in a conservative state during a difficult year for Democrats, Sheheen faced an uphill fight.
Haley will succeed Mark Sanford, a Republican whose final 18 months in office were marred by revelations of an affair with an Argentine woman and the breakup of his marriage.Miami Herald 00232