MANMOHAN SINGHHas also been a professor and civil servantBio BasicsMasters and a Doctorate from OxfordBudget TallyFivePrevious jobsWas FM from 1991-96 and deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, from 1985-87. Has also been RBI governor.Voice of IndiaSingh’s only attempt at being elected into the Lok Sabha, from South Delhi, met with failure in 1999.The Disinvestment DebateThe Cong-led government, according to Singh, would take a balanced approach towards growth and pursue a policy that would ‘‘promote both social and economic growth. We are not pursuing privatisation as an ideology. We are not against disinvestment per se, if it is shown to be in the national interest. We are open to options.’’Seen AsAn accomplished economist, Singh is the man who, as FM from 1991-96, put India on the road to globalisation with liberalisation. But his discomfort with the rough and tumble of politics is also widely known.PRANAB MUKHERJEEHas also been a professor, journalist and advocateBio BasicsMasters in History, and Political Science, and LLBBudget TallyThree Previous jobsWas FM from 1982 to 1984, cabinet minister of commerce from January 1993 to February 1995. Has also served on the Planning Commission.Voice of IndiaElected to the Rajya Sabha in 1969, Mukherjee won his first Lok Sabha election this year from West Bengal’s Jangipur constituency. He had earlier contested the elections from Malda in 1977 and Bolpur in 1980.The Disinvestment DebateMukherjee is of the view that all indiscriminate privatisation of public sector enterprises should be halted. ‘‘If a PSU is run efficiently and makes profit in a competitive environment and not just by doses of subsidies and market manipulations, there is no question of privatising it.’’Seen AsVoted as one the world’s best finance ministers in 1984, Mukherjee is widely regarded for his proficiency in economic matters. Has also come in handy for his party both as a troubleshooter and a strategist. His critics see him as a Sonia Gandhi acolyte, one without any real political base.WISH LISTAsian Paints vice chairman and MD Ashwin DaniFinance: Manmohan SinghCommerce: P ChidambaramLaw: Kapil SibalHome: Pranab MukherjeeExternal Affairs: Jairam RameshDefence: Sharad PawarLarsen & Toubro CFO YM DeosthaleeFinance: Manmohan SinghCommerce: P ChidambaramLaw: Kapil SibalHome: Pranab MukherjeeExternal Affairs: Natwar SinghDefence: Sharad Pawar
