A constant source of amusement

LALU PRASAD

Chargesheeted and with a jail stint to show for it, he brought other chargesheeted colleagues with him, insisting that being ministers was their birthright. Was seen on camera distributing money during the Bihar elections, which he lost for the UPA. As railway minister, his two big ideas were replacing plastic glasses with kulhars, and introducing a special service for vegetables from Bihar (discontinued a month later because the vegetables rotted on account of the late running of trains). Need we say more?

See Trying to unravel a puzzle called Lalu

SHIBU SOREN

Was chargesheeted but made it clear he expected to be made minister, but would vacate that post and become chief minister if the UPA won the election. It didn't, but Soren made himself CM anyway, and had to be dragged away kicking and screaming when he couldn't prove his majority.

RENUKA CHOWDHURY

Given the run of the glamorous tourism ministry, instead of concentrating on policies, the photogenic minister has spent her time and energy chasing duty-free liquor contracts and setting up night bazaars for the local citizenry. Skewed priorities? We'd say: an absence of priorities.

See The Renuka Chowdhury interview

ARJUN SINGH

Must he doze in public?