Maju in Presidential Inauguration Committee

PRESIDENT-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have named Indian-American Maju Varghese in the four-member Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC), which will organise the activities surrounding their swearing-in on January 20.

The team includes Tony Allen as the Chief Executive Officer, Maju Varghese as the Executive Director, Erin Wilson as the Deputy Executive Director and Yvanna Cancela as its Deputy Executive Director.

‘It is an honour to help lead the team that will plan the inaugural activities for President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris while keeping their commitment to protecting the health and safety of Americans and demonstrating the strength and resilience of our nation,' Varghese said in a statement.

Verghese is the fifth Indian-American to be given key positions by the Biden transition team. The inauguration ceremony marks the commencement of a new fouryear term for the president of the US.

It is held even if an incumbent president begins a second consecutive term. The major events are the oath of office, inaugural address, parade and inaugural ball.

‘This historic inauguration will serve as the launching pad for the

Biden-Harris Administration to get to work on day one and beat the pandemic, build back our economy better, and unify our country,' he said.

Varghese was the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Advisor in the Biden-Harris campaign from the primaries through the general, overseeing the campaign's dayto-day operations and leading it through an unprecedented shift to remote working.

He previously served in the Barack Obama administration in various roles, including as the Assistant to the President for Management and Administration and Deputy Director of Advance.