US President-elect Donald Trump has appointed an expert on strategic communications and political research, Raj Shah, as his deputy assistant and research director on the White House staff.
As per an announcement made by the Presidential Transition Team, Shah, who is in his early 30s, will also hold the post of deputy communications director.
Shah helped Trump's campaign by highlighting contradictions in Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's political positions and other issues like her handling of her private email server, which turned into a campaign issue.
Shah is currently head of Opposition Research in the Republican National Committee. In this position, he led a team of experts to carry out research against Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate. Shah was behind all the anti-Clinton campaign during the presidential elections.
The announcement of Shah's appointment to this key White House position was made by incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus along with other appointments.
"These individuals will be key leaders in helping to implement the President elect's agenda and bring real change to Washington," Priebus said.
Reacting to development, Shah said, “I am thrilled for the opportunity. Humbled and very excited to join this new administration to help its efforts and handle the message on the biggest agenda items. I will have the opportunity to serve front and center.”
A second generation Indian American, Shah's parents are from Mumbai having origins from Gujarat. First his father came to the US for studies in 1970s then moved back to India. But after marriage his father and mother moved back to the US in late 70s.
They lived in Chicago and then moved to Connecticut, where he was born and raised.
