The most powerful indians in 2010: No. 11-20

13 : S H Kapadia,62
Chief Justice-designate
Why
He makes it to the list because he is the next Chief Justice of India. A stickler for judicial propriety,his tenure is expected to bring the apex court back to the old school mode of judicial code of conduct by which a judge should only be seen or heard in court,not outside. His opinion in the top-notch Supreme Court Collegium carries immense weight on appointments in the higher judiciary.
Power punch
In December 2009,shortly after the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition report came out in public,he spoke his mind at a public function that “religion is a matter of personal belief and is better kept at home.”
What next
The apex court has already lost round one and two of the RTI battle in the Delhi High Court. He will be key in deciding whether the court will decide to appeal to itself.

14 : Priyanka Gandhi,38
Daughter of Sonia Gandhi,Rahul Gandhi’s sister
Why
She moves up in the power list because as her brother’s profile grows larger,her political inputs become more crucial. When all three are in Delhi,mother and the two children have daily sit-down discussions,usually over lunch at 10,Janpath. That she’s becoming more political was clear when she took charge of nursing her brother’s and mother’s constituencies.
Power punch
“Kya main buddhi dikhti hun (Do I look old)?” was her riposte to Narendra Modi’s jibe that the Congress is an old party. Her 10-day campaign blitzkrieg in UP was one of the game-changers in UP for the Congress.
What next
As the Congress prepares for Mission 2012 in UP,plans are afoot to expand women’s self-help groups,which she started in Amethi and Rae Bareli,all over the state.

15 : Digvijay Singh,63
Congress General Secretary
Why
He makes the jump in this year’s list because he’s probably the only Congress general secretary to have the ears of Rahul Gandhi. While the Amethi MP gets the credit for the Congress’s performance in UP,the general secretary who was in charge of the state played a big part as well. PM was keen to have him in his cabinet. But he’s said to have preferred the party job.
Power punch
As part of a three-member committee negotiating with SP leaders on seat-sharing arrangements in UP in the last Lok Sabha election,Singh came to the table knowing Rahul Gandhi was thinking of going it alone. He drove a hard bargain. Amar Singh got mad. But Digvijay called it right.
What next
UP needs a lot more attention from him. He has the daunting job of picking the party’s Assembly candidates for the 2012 UP elections.

16 : Mukesh Ambani,52
Industrialist
Why
The small drop in this year’s list has little to do with his corporate power,which is undimmed,but new entrants in the upper reaches of the list. For many other industry captains,an ugly fight with a sibling and a rival might have taken the sheen off a bit. Not with him. And that’s because he’s chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Ltd,the largest listed company,with a market capitalisation of Rs 3,46,000 crore. He has entered oil and gas exploration in a big way.
Power punch
He wants to take control of LyondellBasell,the third largest petrochem group in the world. If he succeeds,it will bring RIL among the top ten players in this segment globally.
What next
The takeover outcome will be known this year,as will most likely the verdict of his litigation with Anil Ambani.

17 : Sharad Pawar,69
Union Agriculture Minister
Why
He drops in the list because with Congress firmly in the saddle at Centre,unlike last time when it needed more support,Pawar has lost considerable clout. NCP’s fortunes have also taken a dip during elections for Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly last year. His performance as farm minister in the middle of concern over price rise has drawn a lot of flak. He’s still a force,but a somewhat diminished one.
Power punch
He retained the same number of portfolios during government formation at the Centre and also did not concede crucial NCP ministries to the Congress in Maharashtra.
What next
As president during the 2011 cricket World Cup,he will be in the hot seat. His future in politics will be influenced by how he tackles food price inflation. There’s also the question of succession in NCP.

18 : Sushma Swaraj,57
Leader of BJP in Lok Sabha
Why
She makes it to the list because as the new Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha,she’s the party’s public face. Having already won appreciation for handling parliamentary responsibilities,she now aspires to be the consensus-builder. She has ensured adequate participation of heavyweights like MM Joshi and Yashwant Sinha in parliamentary party affairs,even as she encouraged the Young Turks in the party to take part in parliamentary debates.
Power punch
Taking part in the parliamentary debate on Liberhan Commission Report,she said “all of us were ready to go to jail on Liberhan”—in what was meant to be a clear positive signal to the RSS.
What next
Plans to travel widely. She wants to engage with young MPs in the party via programmes conceptualised by Vinay Sahasrabuddhe.

19 : Mahendra Singh Dhoni,28
India cricket captain
Why
He moves up the list because his record keeps getting better and with it,his standing. You can’t imagine Indian cricket without Dhoni now. His Test record is 11 wins,no losses. He takes his captaincy very seriously,staging dramatic press conferences,like at the 2009 world T20 championships,if doubts are cast on the team.
Power punch
In a year when India had lost their T20 world title rather tamely,Dhoni led from the front,scoring two centuries as the Test team beat Sri Lanka 2-0 at home to become the top-ranked side in the world. His older brother recently joined the BJP and spoke about his younger brother’s ‘admiration’ for the party.
What next
The 2011 World Cup is the big target. And of course,maintaining the top Test ranking,especially because many say the team doesn’t deserve it.

20 : Ganpathi,58
Maoist leader
Why
His real name is Mupalla Laxman Rao,his photo is hard to find,and he breaks into the power list because this most-wanted Naxalite leader commands an extremist movement which the Indian state considers to be the biggest internal security challenge now. He is powerful because his brand of “political” violence has caused the government to commit enormous resources to counter his armed cadres.
Power punch
He planned the massive scaling up of Naxalite violence just when Maoist influence appeared to be waning. The Centre offered to hold dialogue with the Maoists if they gave up violence. Naxalites,led by him,ignored the offer.
What next
Will he ever give up the gun and come to the negotiating table? That’s the question.