TRENTON, N.J., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A man in New Jersey became the first Indian-born politician in U.S. history to hold the office of state governor, even if his tenure lasted one day.

Kris Kolluri, the state's transportation commissioner, was sworn in as New Jersey governor due to the absence of the governor, the Senate president, the Assembly Speaker and the attorney general, all of whom were out of town. The state doesn't have a lieutenant governor's position.

That left the 38-year-old Kolluri -- fifth in line of succession -- in charge. The job lasted just one day, though, because the other politicians returned to New Jersey.

Kolluri's temporary promotion made news in his home country of India, where his father saw a television report and phoned to congratulate him. Kolluri plans to invite friends and family to the governor's mansion to take a few snapshots as souvenirs, the newspaper reported.

Kolluri, however, wasn't letting the new position interfere with his duties as transportation commissioner. "I have to make sure the roads are safe and trains are running on time," he told the newspaper.