Rajiv Shah in fray to succeed Nancy Powell as US Ambassador to India

NEW DELHI: Senior and influential US public servants, including serving and retired Senators and Congressmen, besides Rajiv Shah, head of the United States Agency for International Development, are being considered as successor to Nancy Powell who resigned as Ambassador to India on Monday.

While Shah’s name is doing the rounds as Powell’s possible successor, opinion is divided in Washington about appointing an young Indian-American to the high-profile post. Shah, 41, is considered a rising star in the US bureaucracy but diplomatic circles in both Delhi and Washington are demanding an effective Ambassador who can arrest the drift in ties, official sources told ET from the USA.

“Shah is unlikely to get the right audience in Delhi due to his age. Besides, the issue of divided loyalties will not lift the relationship. If he takes a pro-India stand, he will be seen as selling out to India. Ties did not get the necessary push in the last two years as Powell did not have influence in Washington.

“An influential public servant who has clout in Washington can reset the ties. An Ambassador who is influential in the US will also get respect in Delhi,” a source pointed out.

It has been learnt that the Obama administration is reaching out to a dozen of senior serving and retired Senators and Congressmen. Among those who can be considered for the job include Jim McDermott (78), Member of the US House of Representative from Washington. He is a Democrat. The others are former US Congressman Jim Leach (71), who was in the House of Representative.