The most powerful indians in 2010: No. 71-80

Analysts said it would lead to higher equity stake for promoters but he convinced shareholders.
What next
Integrating BK Birla companies with the Aditya Birla group.

72. KALANIDHI MARAN,44
CMD,Sun TV Network
DAYANIDHI MARAN,43
Union Textiles Minister

Why
The reclusive elder brother is one of India’s richest media barons,the younger is a second-term minister at the Centre. They survived a falling-out with DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi. Kalanidhi owns the second-largest DTH service in the country,while Dayanidhi is now the face of the DMK in Delhi — as the spectrum scam doesn’t leave A Raja and M K Azhagiri has a language handicap.
Power punch
After the public split with the Karunanidhi household,the business faced the threat of a government-owned cable distribution network. Dayanidhi was expelled from the party and cabinet. But they patched up,Daya became a central minister,and the cable network became non-existent.
What next
The business looks set to grow. There are reports of the duo starting an aviation company.

73. RAGHAV BAHL,48
Founder,Network 18

Why
The founder and editor of Network 18 is the man behind leading television channels in genres as diverse as business news (CNBC TV18),mainstream news (CNN-IBN),Hindi general entertainment (Colors) and teleshopping (HomeShoppe18),among others. He also owns several magazines,a newswire service and a thriving film production and distribution businesses.
Power punch
Colors became the number one channel in the most lucrative genre in the television business last year. The group also launched Forbes India and Entrepreneur magazines.
What next
He has been vocal about his desire to add a business daily to his media empire. The plan was hit by last year’s slowdown. He may realise that dream this year. Regional markets may be big on his agenda.

74. PRASHANT BHUSHAN,53
Senior lawyer

Why
Last year,he was on the list with father Shanti Bhushan. This year,he fills the slot himself. This has been a good year for Prashant,who took on the Supreme Court twice on the issue of judges declaring their assets and won both times.
Power punch
Appearing for RTI activist Subhash C Agarwal,he got the Delhi High Court to declare the Chief Justice of India as a “public authority” and bring the office of the Chief Justice of India under the Right to Information Act. He was one of the leading Supreme Court lawyers to question the apex court collegium on the elevation of Justice P.D. Dinakaran to the apex court.
What next
If the Supreme Court appeals to itself against the Delhi High Court’s decision on the CJI’s office coming under RTI,he will be at the forefront.

75. MADHUSUDAN KELA,41
Fund manager

Why
He debuts on our list because he has the power to set the direction of the Indian stock markets. He heads equity investments at the country’s largest fund house,Reliance Mutual Fund,which had average assets under management worth Rs 1,19,981 crore last December.
Power punch
When the markets were in a trough in the aftermath of the global crisis,Kela and his fund house never deviated from their core message: given India’s long-term growth prospects,it makes sense to keep investing in equities despite their short-term volatility.
What next
Maintaining his fund house’s pace of growth in times of regulatory flux; reducing reliance on corporate and bank money and focussing more on retail business will be a key challenge.

76. SHOBHANA BHARTIA,52
Media baron

Why
Chairperson and editorial director of one of the country’s oldest media houses,the Hindustan Times group,she has been credited with its successful transformation into a diversified listed media powerhouse.
Power punch
She is the driving force behind making the flagship daily,Hindustan Times,more youthful. The newspaper went for a makeover in 2009 and tied up with The Washington Post for content sharing. The Hindi daily Hindustan is also in expansion mode.
What next
Higher growth for the existing business and chalking out new alliances look like the way forward for the group. Talks are underway to display Hindustan Times and Mint content on internet giant Yahoo India’s home page.

77. M M GUPTA,69
Dainik Jagran CMD
and SANJAY GUPTA,47
CEO and Editor

Why
Their flagship daily,Dainik Jagran,remains the country’s largest read newspaper despite the mad expansion by competitors and new launches we have seen in the recent past. The paper has 37 editions across 11 states,a rare feat for any publication across the world.
Power punch
Their group was one of the very few media groups not to be affected by the economic downturn. Their experiment with a bilingual daily (Hindi and English),Inext,and their partnership with Yahoo! for co-branded Hindi news was successful.
What next
Diversifying into new markets,consolidating the position on the top and pushing up ad revenues may be big on the agenda for the company.

78. AMITABH BACHCHAN,67
Actor

Why
He pulled off an award-winning performance in Paa but the most recognised face of Indian cinema slides down our list because one of his two releases last year,Aladin,was commercially and critically a turkey. Aladin II is now in the cold storage.
Power punch
His blog,which is now 644 days old,continues to maintain its relevance for his fans. He hasn’t missed a single day of blogging. Everything Bachchan blogs about becomes a story. His recent overture towards Gujarat CM Narendra Modi was much talked about.
What next
Bachchan gets to match his histrionic skills with Ben Kingsley in Teen Patti and will also be seen in Rann,Shoebite and Chenab Gandhi. Important announcements are expected from his banner,AB Corp.

79. AVEEK SARKAR,65
Editor-in-chief,ABP

Why
He moves down a few notches as his media empire is not booming as well as the rest in the business. But Sarkar has steered the ABP Group of Publications from the regional arena to the national playfield. It is a force to reckon with in the Bengal market.
Power punch
He continues to strike partnerships with foreign media houses. Has a majority stake in Star News,the Hindi news channel launched by Rupert Murdoch’s Star India Network. Sealed a deal with Time Warner Group to launch an Indian edition of Fortune,and is also set to launch the Indian edition of The Spectator. Was instrumental in setting up Penguin India under a partnership with Penguin UK.
What next
A formal launch of Fortune followed by that of The Spectator.

80. SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN,50
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister

Why
For someone who got the job by sheer political accident,Shivraj Singh Chouhan is slowly asserting himself. His daringly independent views on compulsory voting and on politicians’ role in sports’ bodies show he is positioning himself as a leader who is different from his flamboyant Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi.
Power punch
When he differed with Modi on compulsory voting. “Kai baar garibon ke liye vote se zyada mahatvapurna roti hoti hai,” he said in response to Modi’s idea of compulsory voting in Gujarat. Earlier,in response to the ban on Jaswant Singh’s book in Gujarat,he ruled out any such move in MP.
What next
Like most BJP leaders,he is fond of road shows. His latest ‘Madhya Pradesh Banao Yatra’ will keep him on the road for two days a week.