Washington: Republican candidate of Indian descent Bobby Jindal has proved pundits wrong. He is leading with 33 per cent of the 231,901 votes polled in the open primary for Lousiana Governorship.

With 71 per cent of the votes counted, Jindal, who finished first had 33 per cent while the second spot was being closely contested by Lt Governor Kathleen Blanco and Attorney General Richard Ieyoub both at 17 per cent.

Turnout was projected at 65 per cent and long queues were also reported at many polling stations on October 4. If none of the 17 candidates contesting for the post get more than 50 per cent of the votes in the primary, the top two would go to the November 15 runoff. The winner would become the next Governor.

Political pundits who had earlier said that Jindal running as a conservative Republican candidate, had no chance of being elected the first Indian-American Governor as he isn't White, were in for a surprise.

He finished first in an open primary for Louisana Governorship while the other three democratic politicians were left scrambling for the second spot.

Thirty-two year old Jindal had remained atop the polls, although, being a Republican, he has hardly any Black support. He was running strong even in areas of the state such as Cajun parishes, where other candidates were favoured.

Jindal, a former assistant secretary to President George W Bush's Department of Health and Human Services, has found a way to appeal to the professional and business class, while still throwing meat to the social conservative, observes the local media.

Jindal has promised to introduce education reforms and abolish several state business taxes, which he says have made the state of Louisiana unattractive to industry.

Besides sporting an impressive resume – Rhodes scholar, federal jobs at a young age of 32, Jindal also is a protege of the state's most prominent Republican Mike Foster who has served two terms.

Bobby Jindal is the son of Indian immigrants who ran Louisiana's biggest university system as well its largest Cabinet-level department, all by the time he was 30.

"He has amazed us in getting as far as he has," said T Wayne Parent, a political scientist at Louisiana State University, "he has captured that biggest bloc of southern and Lousiana voters, rural social conservatives, and he seemed like the most likely person to do that."

Jindal quickly fashioned a strategically savvy campaign of his own, blending his formidable track record as a technocrat with tough radio advertisements attacking abortion, gun control, gay marriage and Hollywood, the 'Washington Post' said.

Starting in the spring from low single digits in the polls, Jindal has vaulted into the lead despite being the last major candidate to advertise on television.

Jindal also has a healthy campaign treasury built partly from contributions from American Indians across the country. He may also receive a boost in the form of a campaign visit by President George Bush in November.

PTI