RANK 81: KAMAL NATH, 67 Union Minister of Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Rank (2013): 13 WHY Nath has ensured that major urbanisation projects do not get stuck for want of procedural sanctions. After urban flagship scheme JNNURM neared an end two years ago, Nath ensured the scheme gets an extension. Following the success of Delhi Metro, he opened the floor to other cities. POWER PUNCH Nath, who also holds the Parliamentary Affairs portfolio, was at the helm of affairs when it came to getting the Andhra Pradesh State Bifurcation Bill passed in Parliament. WHAT NEXT He could be given some important role in the Congress if the UPA goes out of power. BY THE WAY Gets his office cleaned every hour. RANK 82: SACHIN TENDULKAR, 40 Rajya Sabha member, cricket legend Rank (2013): 98 WHY For having maintained his lofty standards on and off the field even as he rode into the sunset in dramatic fashion. POWER PUNCH After a 24-year-long career, he towers over the rest by the sheer weight of his cricketing numbers — 34,177 runs and 100 centuries. And when he called it a day, he summed up his lengthy career with an unforgettable speech at Wankhede Stadium. WHAT NEXT As an MP, he can give India’s sports policy a new direction but it can’t be long before Tendulkar returns to the world of cricket, which can never have enough of him. BY THE WAY He plays computer games on his iPad Mini on flights. RANK 83: GANAPATHY, 64 General secretary, CPI (M) Rank (2013): 27 WHY Despite setbacks in some areas and the killing of some top Maoist leaders in encounters, the banned CPI(Maoist), led by Muppala Lakshman Rao alias Ganapathy, still controls vast areas across Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand and Bihar. He represents what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh termed as the "greatest internal security challenge". POWER PUNCH On May 25, the Maoists under his command delivered a deadly blow when they attacked a convoy of Congress leaders in Darbha. WHAT NEXT There are reports that he has launched a massive recruitment and training programme to strengthen the Maoist cadre in Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand. BY THE WAY A BSc graduate, his first job was as a teacher in Karimnagar. Rank 84: INDIRA JAISING, 74 Additional Solicitor General (New on the list) WHY It was only after the country’s first woman Additional Solicitor General took on former Supreme Court judge A K Ganguly for having allegedly sexually harassed an intern that the furore against him gathered steam. POWER PUNCH First her letter to the PM and then her open letter to Ganguly published by The Indian Express, left him with no option but to step down as Chairperson, West Bengal Human Rights Commission. WHAT NEXT Getting justice for another intern, who has alleged that she was harassed by former SC judge Swatanter Kumar. BY THE WAY She loves dogs; visitors at her house are greeted by her pet, Sahiba. RANK 85: OMITA PAUL, 64 Secretary to the President of India Rank (2013): 41 WHY As secretary to the President and his long-time aide, in a year when all polls point to a hung House, Paul is likely to play an important role as the eyes and ears of President Pranab Mukherjee. POWER PUNCH Paul knows Mukherjee’s mind like nobody else does. Mukherjee’s faith in Paul and their professional chemistry makes the latter wield the kind of power that she does. WHAT NEXT As elections draw to a close and the contours of the 16th Lok Sabha become clearer, Paul will be the go-to person for parties eying a shot at power. BY THE WAY Paul was a lecturer in Government Home Science College, Chandigarh. RANK 86: YOGENDRA YADAV, 50 Aam Aadmi Party leader (New on the list) WHY In the last one year, Yadav has graduated from the man who analysed elections — he “retired” as a psephologist after successfully predicting the Samajwadi Party’s landslide victory in 2012 UP polls — to a candidate all set to fight polls from Gurgaon in Haryana. POWER PUNCH The image of the soft-spoken academic with vast experience as a political analyst has earned Yadav a unique place in a party that has made brashness its hallmark. He is also viewed as the man who balances Kejriwal’s fast pace by a measured approach to things. WHAT NEXT Yadav is set to shift to Gurgaon and is likely to focus on winning what would be a tough contest. BY THE WAY Much before he joined AAP, he was a member of ‘Samajwadi Jan Parishad’, a party founded by socialist Kishen Pattanayak. RANK 87: UDAY SHANKAR, 52 Star TV CEO Rank (2013): 78 WHY He is credited with the turnaround of the Star Group that has managed to sustain the growth trajectory even after the exit of Rupert Murdoch from the group’s ownership. POWER PUNCH He infused small town consciousness into the programmes on Star’s general entertainment channels with resounding success. It was also under him that Star emerged as a superstar in sports broadcast, especially cricket. WHAT NEXT As the media space gets more and more crowded in an election year, the challenge will be to stay ahead in all the segments in which Star has marked its presence in a big way during the last few years. BY THE WAY A JNU alumnus, he started as a journalist with CSE. RANK 88: ANANDIBEN PATEL, 72 GUJARAT Revenue and Urban Development Minister (New on the list) WHY A close confidante of Narendra Modi, she is one of the frontrunners for the post of Gujarat CM if he goes to Delhi post-polls. Patel is BJP’s most formidable woman leader in Gujarat and as revenue and urban development minister, almost all land-related decisions come under her. POWER PUNCH Her stern exterior lends her the image of a tough taskmaster. When Modi is out of the state, she is the one virtually in charge. WHAT NEXT Known to have a very firm grip over the administration, she is widely tipped to be the Gujarat CM, in case Modi makes it as prime minister. BY THE WAY She started off as a Government school teacher in Mahesana district. RANK 89: KUNIYIL KAILASHNATHAN, 61 Chief Principal Secretary at Gujarat CM Office (New on the list) WHY Considered the bureaucrat closest to Narendra Modi, this 1979-batch IAS officer is seen as his troubleshooter. This University of Wales alumnus played a vital role in helping Modi change his image— from ‘Hindu Hriday Samrat’ after the 2002 riots to the investment-friendly CEO-CM through Vibrant Gujarat summits. POWER PUNCH When he retired last June after serving seven years in the CMO, Modi reappointed him on a specially-created post. WHAT NEXT He could be moving to Delhi if Modi becomes the PM. BY THE WAY He grew up in Ooty, where his father was a postmaster. RANK 89: HARISH SALVE, 58 Senior advocate (New on the list) WHY Salve frequently shows up for India’s majors such as Reliance Industries Limited and the Tata Group. There is hardly any politician who has not sought his advice. POWER PUNCH Salve’s arguments on international maritime laws brought the first relief for the two Italian marines jailed in India for killing fishermen off the Kerala coast. WHAT NEXT Salve has been assisting the Supreme Court as amicus curiae. He is helping the court regulate mining and also nudging states to usher in police reforms. BY THE WAY He loves to play the piano. Before qualifying as a lawyer, Salve was working as a chartered accountant. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE POWER LIST
