The most powerful Indians in 2011: No. 21-30

An Ayurvedic doctor by training,his public meetings often see him prescribing medicines to citizens.

25. Syed Ali Shah Geelani,81

Hurriyat Leader

Why

He comes into the list and that,too,in the top 30 because this Kashmir separatist hardliner beat both Hurriyat moderates and the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front leaders to emerge as the boss of street protesters,who shut down the Valley for five months in 2010. The state government released him from jail to try and pacify protesters. He will be the key figure this year in Kashmir.

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It was only when he called for peaceful protests that the Valley agitation stopped being violent.

What Next

Will he greenlight another round of protests? That’s the big,scary question in Kashmir,which is quiet now.

By the way

The Valley’s schoolchildren have a name for him,Chhutti Baba,courtesy his calls for shutdowns.

26. Rahul Bhatia, 49

Chairman,IndiGo Airlines

Why

He comes into the list because he runs India’s only airline that makes good money,and IndiGo flights are the most dependable,with 90 per cent being on time. He has proved private airlines can be a viable business,and not one where owners run to ministers every few months. He’s a business innovator in a crucial sector. He turned the five-year-old IndiGo into India’s second largest airline because of his ability to attract and retain talent.

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Earlier this month,he placed an order worth Rs 68,000 crore ($15 billion) for 180 Airbus aircraft. The aircraft will join IndiGo’s fleet from 2015; 150 of them will have special fuel-saving options.

What Next

He wants to take the low-cost model to the international skies in August this year. His airline will start services to Dubai,Bangkok and Singapore.

By the way

He’s a workaholic; 18-hour work days are not uncommon. And he is an excellent golfer.

27. NC Saxena,68

Member,National Advisory Council

Why

He makes it to the list and to the top 30 because he’s the country’s top “official activist”. This former Planning Commission member’s adverse reports on Vedanta and Posco formed the basis of the government’s decisions on these high-profile projects. Sonia Gandhi pays particular attention to him at NAC meetings. He was the Supreme Court’s eyes and ears when it was looking at the issue of the effectiveness of food security programmes.

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His unambiguous condemnation of Vedanta’s mining project. The ferocity of his critique is rare in most government-commissioned reports.

What Next

He has another report,on the poor implementation of Forest Rights Act nationally,that is likely to have a big impact on official policy for both tribal rights and industrialisation.

By the way

Always tall for his age,he says his height as a child got him admitted to Class V when he went for admission to kindergarten.

28. K Chandrasekhar Rao

TRS President

Why

He zooms up the list because Andhra’s best-known Telangana advocate’s actions this year will hugely impact not just the state but also the debate on states’ reorganisation nationally,as well as the political fortunes of the ruling Congress.

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He went on a fast for Telangana on November 29,2009,and within days,the protests grew so big that P Chidambaram had to make a late-night announcement that the Centre was ready to consider Telangana statehood.

What Next

If there’s a Telangana state,he won’t become the chief minister,that’s what he has said. Of course,he will be the real centre of power. If there’s no progress towards Telangana,all bets are off on his next strategy.

By the way

All his decisions — even those on fasts — are in part guided by advice from a priest from his native village,Siddipet.

29. Digvijay Singh, 63

Congress General Secretary

Why

He drops out of the top 20 in the list because his frequent and controversial public statements have raised questions about his political smarts. His opinion piece in a newspaper attacking Chidambaram’s anti-Naxal strategy saw the party leadership backing the home minister. His “Karkare-called-me-before-he-was-shot” was another politically profitless intervention.

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A valued Congress strategist,he has been given charge of poll-bound Assam,apart from his responsibilities in UP. His hard line on the RSS seems to have found party endorsement.

What Next

Winning Assam for the party is vital for him,and as for Rahul Gandhi,UP is his big test.

By the way

An avid wildlife photographer,he’s a regular visitor to national parks.

30. Nitin Gadkari,54

BJP President

Why

He seemed to have everything going for himself last year when RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat picked him as the BJP president. The Parivar dynamics have sharply changed a year later: Bhagwat’s stock has dipped,Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley have emerged stronger and Gadkari’s performance has been far from impressive. So,even though the party looks stronger,its chief slips down the list.

Power Punch

Though his tongue slips much too often,he managed to silence Congress spokesman Manish Tewari by slapping him with a legal notice after the latter levelled allegations against him over the Adarsh scam.

What Next

He has to ensure an image change for the BJP to effectively play the corruption plank against the Congress,and moderate hardline elements within the party to gain more allies.

By the way

A foodie,his favourite is vada pav.