PM, Karat, Maya in race for NDTV Indian of the Year

Of the seven categories for the ‘NDTV Indian of the Year’ award, co-sponsored by The Indian Express and to be conferred this month...

Of the seven categories for the ‘NDTV Indian of the Year’ award, co-sponsored by The Indian Express and to be conferred this month, the nominations from politics are an eclectic mix of dynamic public speakers, writers and controversy-suitors.

From Uttar Pradesh’s firebrand Chief Minister Mayawati to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, all the nominees are varied and accomplished. The category sees other names like former President APJ Abdul Kalam, father of India’s missile programme who became a “people’s president”, to veteran BJP leader L K Advani, who was recently anointed prime ministerial candidate by his party. The

CPM general secretary perhaps makes the most controversial nominee with his anti-US stance over the Indo-US nuke deal, in contest here too with the Prime Minister!

The factfile:

Manmohan Singh: Handpicked by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister when she declined the post, Dr Singh has served key government positions as Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, RBI Governor and UGC Chairman. He was conferred the Padma Vibhushan in 1987 and the Euromoney Award and Finance Minister of the Year in 1993. Famously known as the man behind the economic growth story of the 1990s, he spearheaded and fought for the Indo-US nuclear deal.

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Prakash Karat: General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Karat is believed to have ushered in a generational change in his party and given it a stronger voice in the Parliament. Apart from his anti-US stance, he has been pushing for social security schemes for workers in the unorganised sector.

Mayawati: Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and President of Bahujan Samaj Party, Mayawati formed a single party government in UP after 16 years. From her rise as the leader of only one section of the community, Mayawati today has worked out a political strategy to get both Dalit and Brahmin votes and focuses on social justice through employment.

L K Advani: Currently Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Advani was recently announced the prime ministerial candidate for the BJP, leaving his rivals in the race to succeed former prime minister A B Vajpayee. He has always argued in favour of anti-terrorism laws.

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam: The 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007, Kalam is known as the Father of India’s missile programme. As President, he stressed on connecting with people. Used his veto on the Office of Profit Bill and was the first President to win a Bharat Ratna before becoming President.