P Chidambaram to be guest at Express Adda today

Over the last 18 months, Chidambaram — the guest at Friday’s Express Adda in Mumbai — has been seen trying to bring about a bi-partisan approach, especially in his writings on economics, appalled as he says by the level of public discourse and the need to influence people, and their thought and behaviour.

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That has been reflected in his views on a diverse range of issues, such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), foreign policy, refugees, ethical issues, governance and state of the country.

Known as one of the original economic liberalisers, having been part of the Narasimha Rao government of 1991, when the trade regime was opened up, and for the “dream” budget of 1997, when tax rates and peak tariffs were slashed, Chidambaram has been a supporter of an open economy.

One of the prominent ministers in the last UPA government, as well as the United Front government in the late 1990s, it was to Chidambaram that the government turned to after the 2008 Mumbai blasts to take charge of the home ministry and later the finance ministry at a crucial juncture in 2013.

He is no stranger to corporate India and Mumbai, either, having engaged deeply with top industry doyens, regulators and chiefs of financial sector firms and the security apparatus during his ministerial assignments over a long political career.

Away from the pressures of office, Chidambaram has sought to enhance the public discourse as reflected in his assessment of the fiscal math of the NDA government’s 2016 budget, when he pointed to what was missing in the documents which accompany it.

What makes him an engaging speaker is not just his clarity of thought and articulation but the fact that he doesn’t hold back. He has indicated to his own party that it needs to start offering alternatives if they wish to replace the BJP in power three years from now. He has also been vocal on issues that concern the industry such as GST and national security — issues he is well-equipped to address.