Tune in to FM

Bio Basics

Masters and a Doctorate from Oxford

Budget Tally

Five

Previous jobs

Was FM from 1991-96 and deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, from 1985-87. Has also been RBI governor.

Voice of India

Singh’s only attempt at being elected into the Lok Sabha, from South Delhi, met with failure in 1999.

The Disinvestment Debate

The 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 As

An 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 MUKHERJEE

Has also been a professor, journalist and advocate

Bio Basics

Masters in History, and Political Science, and LLB

Budget Tally

Three

Previous jobs

Was FM from 1982 to 1984, cabinet minister of commerce from January 1993 to February 1995. Has also served on the Planning Commission.

Voice of India

Elected 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 Debate

Mukherjee 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 As

Voted 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 LIST

Asian Paints vice chairman and MD
Ashwin Dani

Finance: Manmohan Singh

Commerce: P Chidambaram

Law: Kapil Sibal

Home: Pranab Mukherjee

External Affairs: Jairam Ramesh

Defence: Sharad Pawar

Larsen & Toubro CFO
YM Deosthalee

Finance: Manmohan Singh

Commerce: P Chidambaram

Law: Kapil Sibal

Home: Pranab Mukherjee

External Affairs: Natwar Singh

Defence: Sharad Pawar