Know your new ministers

An MLA and a Minister of State in the Vasantrao Naik Ministry. Resigned from the Congress in 1978 to join the Progressive Democratic Front government led by Pawar. Later, returned to the Congress and presented nine successive budgets for the Vasantrao Patil government.

In 2002, contested the election for the post of Vice-President against NDA8217;s Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and lost.

Became Chief Minister in January 2003. Despite leading the party to victory in 2004, replaced by Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Appointed Andhra Pradesh Governor in October 2004.

The Person
Authored three books. Fond of stage dramas and farming.

The Y-Factor
Sonia Gandhi8217;s Campaign Manager in Amethi in 1999.

Quote-Unquote
8220;The promise of free power given in 2004 assembly polls was part of our strategy. But I agree with the PM that free power should not be given8221;.

MINORITY AFFAIRS
A R Antulay, 77
The Course
Four-time Lok Sabha member from the coastal Konkan.

Became chief minister of Maharashtra in June 1980. In January 1982, quit in the wake of a cement scam. Years on, the courts gave him a clean chit.

A member of the Rajya Sabha during 1976-80. Elected to the Lok Sabha in 1989, 1991 and 1996.

Between June 1995 and May 1996, Union Cabinet Minister, Health and Family Welfare. Held additional charge of Water Resources in 1996.

The Person
A Barrister-At Law. Educated at Bombay University and Lincolin8217;s Inn, London.

The Y-Factor
8220;If you have an inner voice, so do we. And we all feel you must be the prime minister,8221; he told Sonia when she insisted on declining the PM8217;s post.

Quote-Unquote
8220;In the post-independence era, certain special privileges and concessions were allowed, I repeat allowed, to be declared by Government in favour of the minorities. In practical terms the declared concessions were never extended to them. The declarations remained as mere slogan8221;.

OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS
Vayalar Ravi, 69
The Course
Founder president of the Congress8217; students wing Kerala Students Union in the early 1960s.

The 1969 split in the Congress made him a nationally-known figure: A 8216;Young Turk8217; staunchly backing the left-of-the-centre policies of Indira Gandhi.

Elected to the Lok Sabha in 1971 and 1977. Elected to the Assembly in 1982 and 1987. Served as State Home Minister in 1982 to 1986.

A key figure of anti-Karunakaran axis. But had a brief stint in the Karunakaran camp in early 1990s.

The Person
A staunch Nehruvian . A keen trade unionist.

The Y-Factor
Ravi joined Pawar when the latter floated Congress secular.

Quote-Unquote
Was accused of visiting the RSS HQ in Nagpur to seek its support during the May 2001 Kerala Assembly polls. He denied the charge: 8220;I have never seen RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan. Moreover, I do not even know where the headquarters of the RSS is in Nagpur.8221;

CULTURE AND TOURISM
Ambika Soni, 62
The Course
Hogged national limelight as president of the Indian Youth Congress during the Emergency. She was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1976 and was made All India Mahila Congress chief in 1998.

She has been General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee 1999 onwards.

The Person
Her husband is an IFS officer and she speaks three foreign languages. Took charge of the party8217;s international relations.

The Y-Factor
A close associate of late Sanjay Gandhi, she was openly critical of Indira Gandhi during the time she had made common cause with Sharad Pawar when he floated his own party.

In 2000, she quit as AICC general secretary, to campaign for Sonia Gandhi, who was seeking re-election as party chief.

Quote-Unquote
8220;Allow me to emulate you. I request you to ask the Prime Minister not to include me in his cabinet. My close association with you is very valuable to me and I cherish it,8221; she said turned down an offer of a ministerial berth in the government in May 2004.8221;

COAL
S Shibu Soren, 62
The Course
Known among his followers as 8216;Guruji8217;. He founded the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in 1972 and became its general secretary. Fifteen years later he took over as its president, a post he continues to hold.

Elected to Parliament from Dumka in 1980.

Became embroiled in a number of criminal cases. Chirudi murder case 1975 in Jamtara cost him the portfolio of Union Coal Minister in the UPA Government.

Accused in JMM bribery case during the Narasimha Rao regime for which he was later acquitted.

The Person
Born into a Santhal teacher8217;s family in Hazaribagh. Launched a fight against money lenders after his father Somlang8217;s murder.

The Y-Factor
Invited shoot-at-sight orders from then Congress government in undivided Bihar. Soren surrendered after the then PM Indira Gandhi offered to hold talks with him, paving the way for a poll alliance in 1980.

Quote-Unquote
8220;No one is above law. Neither Shibu Soren nor Shankaracharya8221;

PETROLEUM
Murli Deora, 69
The Course
A municipal councilor in 1968. Become Mumbai8217;s youngest Mayor in 1977.

Elected to the Lok Sabha from South Mumbai constituency during 1984 to 1998. In 2002, he became a RS member

The Person
Economics graduate from University of Mumbai

The Y-Factor
His closeness with former congressman Steven Solarz and former senator Larry Pressler, his association with Bill Gates who visited India last year at his insistence, have all seen spin-offs. His entry to the RS came for a special mention in the House of Representatives by Democrats Gary Ackerman and Jim McDermott.

Quote-Unquote
8220;Dhirubhai Ambani and I were working together, did you know? Now where is he and where I am? Maybe I would have made some Rs 100 million, but I was more interested in public life.8221;

WATER RESOURCES
Saifuddin Soz, 69
The Course
Joined NC after the death of Sheikh Abdullah in 1982.

Hit the national headlines when voted against the then Vajpayee Government in 1999, defying the party whip. Was expelled from the party. Joined the Congress and was elected to the RS in 2004.

The Person
A prolific author. The only politician member of Courts of Jamia Milia and JNU

The Y-Factor
During the last decade of turmoil in Kashmir, he is said to have ensured admission to about three thousand Kashmiri Muslim students in different institutions of the country.

Quote-Unquote
8220;Congress I hold responsible equally as far as Babri Masjid is concerned. But retrospectively we cannot punish. It was Narasimha Rao as Congress president and as PM8221;.