Columbia, South Carolina - Proud daughter of Indian immigrants, Nikki Randhawa Haley who was re-elected as Governor of South Carolina in recent elections sworn in as the 116th Governor of South Carolina on Wednesday, January 14th 2015. Governor Haley won by the largest margin of victory for a South Carolina gubernatorial candidate in 24 years. Governor Haley is the first female and the first minority governor in South Carolina history and currently the youngest Governor in the country.

Dr. Prasad Thotakura, Chairman of the Indian American Friendship Council (IAFC), who is a great supporter of Nikki Haley for over a decade since her early days in politics was specially invited by Governor Haley to attend these swearing-in ceremonies. Dr. Thotakura led a delegation of more than 15 people from Dallas for these historic ceremonies. The team included IAFC Board of Directors and Supporters Murali Vennam, Ramki Chebrolu, Arun Agarwal, Anya Agarwal, Suresh Vuluvala, Grace Suresh, Dr. Rajesh Adusumilli, Vijay Krishna Pilla, Sanjay Anand, Avita Anand, Anisha Anand, Amitabh Ghosh etc., Governor Haley conveyed her special appreciation and thanks to Dr. Prasad Thotakura and Dallas team for their unweaving support for the last several years. Governor Haley hosted a special breakfast at Governor's Mansion to IAFC delegation on Thursday, January 15th and introduced all her family members to IAFC team.

Dr. Prasad Thotakura extended an invitation to Governor Haley to Dallas to visit the newly built Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Plaza. Governor Haley who has attended as a Chief Guest of Honor at the ground breaking ceremonies of the same project Congratulated Prasad Thotakura, Chairman of the project and the entire leadership of IAFC, IANT and the  Dallas community for building such a remarkable plaza and accepted the invitation to visit Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Plaza at her earliest possible time. Governor Haley has a very special respect for Mahatma Gandhi and his contributions to the World in promoting peace and non-violence. 

Governor Haley has a stated that her recent trip to India was very successful and she and her team are so appreciative of Indian Government’s warm welcome and expecting to further great relations with India in creating more opportunities for both South Carolina and India in the area of manufacturing, service and infrastructure sectors.

Under Governor Haley's leadership, during her first term, South Carolina's jobless rate hit the record lows. The state has announced more than 58,000 jobs and more than 25,000 South Carolinians moved from welfare to work, and the state made its largest infrastructure investment in a generation without raising taxes.

Governor Haley, a strong Republican is one of the current rising political stars in US politics and expected to be a Vice-Presidential candidate in US Presidential elections to be held in 2016. Governor Haley and her husband Michael, who is a Captain in the Army National Guard, have two children, Rena 16, and Nalin 13.