61. ANIL AGARWAL,57Industrialist WhyThis former metal scrap dealer debuts in our list because his $10-billion global business has a bigger presence in India and he is one of the few in the mining business to notch up successes recently. Today,he is the uncrowned king of the non-ferrous metal business. Like steel tycoon L.N. Mittal,he has a knack for turning around loss-making companies. A considerable part of the Indian metal sectors growth can be attributed to him.Power punchHe has become the biggest zinc producer and the fourth largest aluminium producer in the world. In a surprise move,he took over Sesa Goa for a mining foray.What nextHe has plans for power generation. If things go well,Vedanta would be firing its 10,000 MW turbine soon. 62. K CHANDRASEKHAR RAO,56Chief of Telangana Rashtra Samiti WhyRao,or KCR as he is popularly known,makes it to the power list for single-handedly bringing the Telangana movement back on the radar. His 11-day hunger strike for a separate Telangana state also gave a fillip to the politics of hard bargain.Power punchKCR was written off after the dismal performance of his TRS in the May 2009 elections. But he staged a stunning comeback with that hunger strike,forcing the Centre to announce that it would start the process of creating a separate Telangana state.What nextWith the creation of Telangana state running into trouble due to a lack of consensus among political parties,and agitations and protests continuing,KCR will stay in the limelight for a long time. 63. RAJIV BAJAJ,43Industrialist WhyThe elder son of Rahul Bajaj and managing director of Bajaj Auto is a new entrant because hes among the most exciting young faces of corporate India. Bajaj Auto allowed Hero Honda to race ahead in the late 90s. But it is in a strong comeback mode under Rajiv. Apart from running its two-wheeler operations,Rajiv is also spearheading the small car project in partnership with Renault-Nissan.Power punchDespite his father Rahuls reservations,he announced the companys plans to exit the scooter business as it no longer makes sense.What nextHe wants to put Bajaj among the top three two-wheeler makers in the world. Expect new models this year. His small car venture will also take a concrete shape this year. 64. LAKSHMI NIWAS MITTAL,59Industrialist WhyLN Mittal moves down our list as his two planned greenfield projects worth Rs 80,000 crore to be based in Jharkhand and Orissa have not taken off. Not one to give up,Mittal realises the opportunity to establish a low-cost complete value chain: from producing captive iron ore to producing steel at a reasonable cost. Mid-sized Indian companies like Uttam Galva have begun seeking to synergise their operations with ArcelorMittal.Power punchLeaving Jharkhand and Orissa governments jittery,Mittal has set off a wooing war between states. He is scouting for locations elsewhere and his team has visited Karnataka.What nextHe has trained his eyes on brown field expansionthrough new buys. He is expected to gradually merge Uttam Galva Steel into his empire. 65. CHANDA KOCHHAR,48Banker WhyShe debuts on our list for rising from a management trainee in 1984 to the Managing Director and CEO of ICICI Bank,the largest private sector bank in the country. Since 2005,she has not missed her spot on the Forbes list of the Worlds Most Powerful Women in Business.Power punchShe pipped six strong internal candidates including Shikha Sharma,Renuka Ramnath and Sanjoy Chatterjee to emerge as the consensus candidate for heading the bank. She has transformed ICICI into the largest private sector bank in the country in just a decade.What nextShe is slamming the brakes now. Over the next year,she plans to let the balance sheet remain at previous years levels as she brings back investor faith after the global financial crisis. 66. KANIMOZHI,41Rajya Sabha MP WhyA new entry on the list,DMK president and Chief Minister M Karunanidhis daughter is said to have inherited his literary qualities. She is her partys answer to the woman power that arch-rival Jayalalithaa has flaunted so far. With Maran,she is the face of the DMK in Delhi.Power punchAfter keeping a low profile for years,Kanimozhi finally emerged from the shadows after becoming Rajya Sabha member. She also organised the womens conference of the party,the first ever such initiative.What nextA reluctant politician thus far,she is learning the ropes and is emerging as a good public speaker over the past few years. With the Assembly election scheduled for next year,she is expected to be more active during the party's campaign. 67. N K SINGH,69Former bureaucrat,JD (U) politician WhyIn his new role as chief adviser to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar,this former bureaucrat and now JD(U) MP continues to wield the kind of influence that would be the envy of his peers. Known for his amazing network,it is no surprise that he is the brain behind Nitish Kumars initiatives in the state.Power punchHe got global players to partner in the building of an international university at Nalanda and got Amartya Sen to head the panel to oversee the opening of the institution. Got corporate czars like Ratan Tata,Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Mittal to talk investment in Patna.What nextHis role as adviser to CM will be put to test when the state goes to polls this year. If JD(U) returns to power,Singh will be expected to get some big investments to the state. 68. SHEILA DIKSHIT,72Chief Minister,Delhi WhyWhen the Congress swept the May 2009 parliamentary elections in Delhi,it did so riding the Sheila Dikshit wave that had brought it back to power in the state for a third straight time. So why is she a few notches down from last years power list? A Chief Minister who is nervous about her states preparations for the Commonwealth Games doesnt exactly inspire confidence. Also,despite her best efforts,she failed to get MCD under the Delhi government.Power punchShe managed to hike water,power and electricity tariffs in quick succession,all in her third term. There wasnt even a whimper of protest in a state that has no Opposition worth its name.What nextIn eight months,Delhi hosts the Commonwealth Games. Everything depends on whether she gets that right. 69. SURESH KALMADI,66President,IOA WhyHe makes it to the list this year because the Commonwealth Games this year are Indias biggest sporting responsibility. Theres little doubt that Suresh Kalmadi,Indian Olympic Association president (a post he has held for one-and-a-half decades already),is the most influential man in Indian sport outside of cricket. If the Games go well,expect his clout to go up big time.Power punchHe came back from the drubbing he got from Commonwealth Games Federation head Mike Fennell and in two months was being praised by Fennell. He got his organisational act together. He got his political act together even more. He played mediator when Indias hockey team went on strike and got them back to the training camp.What nextThe Games obviously. 70. N. RAM,64Editor,The Hindu WhyPublisher and editor-in-chief of The Hindu,N. Ram is one of Indias most respected journalists. .The Left is out of the power equation at the Centre. But his primary claim to being in the list remains: his newspaper continues to be a forum for identifying and debating crucial matters of public interest. For example,The Hindu started the debate on paid news in the media.Power punchHe hasnt let the commercialisation of the newspaper business get the better of him. The Hindu is the only newspaper in India to have an internal ombudsman. The group entered the television segment in a joint venture with NDTV last year.What nextHes been vociferous about the deterioration in media practices. We may see a book by him on the function of the press and the medias role in the social and economic context.
