Piyush 'Bobby' Jindal, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the US Department of Health and Human Services and the seniormost Indian American in the Bush administration, has resigned with effect from February 21 to make a bid for elective office -- the governor of his home state Louisiana.

Sources close to Jindal told rediff.com that he has not formed an exploratory committee. However, he has sounded out some of his close friends and supporters and made overtures to the political establishment in Louisiana.

Jindal told rediff.com that since he is still a federal government employee,  he could not comment on the rumors of his wanting to run for governor.

He said it would be unethical to make anything official until he leaves the HHS. Otherwise, Jindal said, he could be accused of using his position to promote a possible candidacy.

HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson said Jindal was 'stepping down as assistant secretary for planning and evaluation to consider other opportunities in his home state of Louisiana'.