In first steps towards assuming office,US president-elect Barack obama has named a 15-member team,including an Indian women economist,which will oversee the smooth transition of power and appeared set to appoint fellow Democrat from chicago as his white house chief of staff.A day after his election to top post,obama offered the white house chief of staff job to house Representative Rahm Emanuel of illinois.Emanuel,the fourth ranking house democrat is a close friend of obama from chicago.Emanuel helped lead democrats to majority control of the house in 2006.He was elected to the house on 2002.He also worked on president clinton's first presidential campaign and served asa white house adviser to him.Obama,the first black to occupy the white house,has 10 weeks to build a new administration before incumbent George W bush hands over power on Jan 20,2009.obama has also formally announced is transition team which will be headed by former clinton chief of staff John podesta,long time obama advisor valerie jarett and pete Rouse,obama's senate chief of staff.The three will be assisted by an advisory board comprising individuals with significant private and public sector experience including Indian-Amercian Sonal shah who works for google.org on its Global devlopment team.
