In a hurry but getting nowhere fast

DAYANIDHI NARAN

His family and friends got a mail from the ministry extolling the 96 achievements in telecom, most of them rulings of the TRAI, or the result of competition. Does little, but is happy to take credit for things that happen in normal course: for instance, taking credit because the Tamil Nadu government got the Nokia plant to Chennai. Works on the simple assumption that if you ask no questions, you'll be told no lies.

MANI SHANKAR AIYAR

A Pakistani editor described him thus: 'Oozing charm from every pore, he oiled his way along the floor.' Pipelines have been rigged all over the world map. But not one barrel of oil seems to be on the horizon. Aiyar seems to favour the oil route to the ministry of external affairs.

SHARAD PAWAR

Acknowledged as the minister who knows everything about agriculture, in his time Pawar brought agricultural innovations to Maharashtra. But is the ministry of agriculture too gargantuan for him to handle?