Indian-American businessman joins Georgia Senate race

Bhubaneswar - Indian-American entrepreneur Bikram Kumar Mohanty has been chosen as the candidate of President Barak Obama's Democratic Party for Georgia state's Senate elections slated later this year.

Migrating to the US in 1994 from Chandbali in Odisha's Bhadrak district, around 110 km from here, Mohanty, 45, is the founder and chief executive officer of Innovative Rehab Solutions - a health care company based in Gerogia's Valdosta city.

"As a student, I got the opportunity to serve in the Missionaries of Charity as a clinical intern. I truly believe my skills and commitment would help create jobs in south Georgia," Mohanty told IANS in an email.

The Indian-American entrepreneur said he was appointed to the 'White House Conference on Aging' as an alternate delegate from Georgia in 2005.

He has also served in Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce from 2002-2003 and as the licensure liaison to the Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapist.

Mohanty set up the Mother Teresa Foundation, a non-profit organisation, to raise awareness about health care and disease prevention issues among low-income and homeless Americans.

The elections to the Georgia state Senate will be held July 31 and November 6, he said.

"Mohanty is the first person from Odhisha to run for a state senate in the US and we are proud of him," said Dhirendra Kar, former president of the Orissa Society of the Americas.