Bobby Jindal sworn in as Louisiana Governor

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Houston, January 14: : Indian-American Piyush Bobby Jindal, a conservative Republican, recreated history on Monday as he was sworn in as the youngest governor of once racially segregated US state of Louisiana.

He promised a "New Louisiana" that will be a magnet for the dreamers, the risk-takers, the adventurers, the leaders of America's new economy, Jindal said immediately after being sworn in as Louisiana's 55th governor.

Alongside his wife and three little children, Piyush recited the oath of office, holding his hand to his family's Bible, and became Louisiana's first immigrant governor.

Pascal Calogero, chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, administered the oath, making Jindal the first non-white governor in Louisiana and fourth Republican state chief executive since Reconstruction.

He is the first governor from Baton Rouge since the 1920s. He was born in Baton Rouge and raised in the Kenilworth neighborhood.

Jindal said an overhaul of the state's ethics laws and reduction in business taxes would make Louisiana a beacon for current residents and those who have left the state to seek opportunity elsewhere.

"For reasons none of us can understand or fully appreciate, history has placed all of us -- every living Louisianian, those within her borders and without -- in a position previous generations could only envy," Jindal said.

"Under the spotlight of the world, with generosity from many and a clear call to common purpose, we have the opportunity to make lasting and positive change," Jindal said.

Also taking the oath of office was Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, Insurance Commissioner James Donelon, Treasurer John Kennedy, Attorney General James "Buddy" Caldwell and Secretary of State Jay Dardenne.

But the morning belonged to Jindal, the 36-year-old Republican who sailed into office with 54 per cent vote in the primary after narrowly losing his first gubernatorial bid four years ago to Democrat Kathleen Blanco.

Coming less than 30 months after large swaths of the state was destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Jindal takes office at a time of great opportunity in state government.

After years of trailing the rest of the South in key economic and social welfare indicators, Louisiana is reaping record revenues from sky-high energy prices.

Jindal inherits a government with record budget surpluses and a laundry list of issues that need urgent attention, from roads and ports to a vanishing coastline and education and health-care systems whose performance lags far behind other states.