India

CHIRANJEEVI Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) president Chiranjeevi addresses a meeting in Hyderabad, India, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009. A star of nearly 150 films, Chiranjeevi is the latest in the long tradition of film star-turned-politicians from southern India. The 53-year-old star of Tollywood – the Telugu language film industry of Andhra Pradesh – has launched a [...]

NITISH KUMAR Nitish Kumar Chief minister of Bihar and former minister of transport and agriculture. Heads an alliance of the Janata Dal United party and the BJP, which holds a clear majority in the state. His victory in November 2005 ended 15 years of rule by the charismatic Laloo Prasad Yadav, leader of the Rashtriya [...]

CHANDRABABU NAIDU Chandrababu Naidu President of the Telegu Desam Party (TDP), a key BJP ally, since 1995. Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1995 to 2004. Seen as one of India’s most dynamic politicians, who helped turn the state capital, Hyderabad, into an information-technology hub. Believes in what he calls “electronic governance” to cut through [...]

JAYALALITHA AIADMK leader Jayaram Jayalalitha Chennai, India, Leader of Tamil Nadu state’s opposition AIADMK party, and potential kingmaker. Former ally of BJP, but could switch her backing to Congress. Has also shown support for a nascent “third front” of regional and left-wing parties challenging the two main coalitions. An ex-actress, she was brought into politics [...]

SHARAD PAWAR ICC Vice-President Sharad Pawar (R) during the ICC Cricket World Cup Organising Committee meeting in New Delhi on February 17, 2009. One of India’s most powerful politicians, an on-off ally of Congress. Head of the Maharashtra-based Nationalist Congress Party, known to have long harboured national ambitions. Head of the Indian cricket board, a [...]

MAYAWATI Leader to millions of India’s low-caste Dalits, or “untouchables” as they used to be known. Became India’s first Dalit chief minister when elected at head of a coalition with the BJP in Uttar Pradesh state in 2007. Could now emerge at the head of a “third front” in India if both main coalitions fail [...]

NARENDRA MODI Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Key BJP figure, chief minister of Gujarat since 2001. Powerful and charismatic, popular among BJP supporters. Criticised for failing to stem anti-Muslim violence in which more than 1,000 people were killed in 2002. Resigned in aftermath of riots, but campaigned for re-election later that year on openly hard-line [...]

RAHUL GANDHI Rahul Gandhi, Son of Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi and general secretary of Congress. Seen as being groomed to take over from Manmohan Singh at the head of a Congress-led coalition. Member of parliament for the family constituency of Amethi since 2004. Initially refused to take up a leading position in Congress, but now [...]

SONIA GANDHI Italian-born president of Congress party. Widow of murdered former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and current leader of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. Eschewed politics after Rajiv’s 1991 killing before stepping up to lead the party in 1998. Elected to parliament the following year. Turned down post of prime minister after leading Congress to a surprise [...]

LK ADVANI Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) leader L. K. Advani gestures as he addresses protesting Indian military veterans in New Delhi on March 19, 2009, Firebrand, 81-year-old leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Remembered for leading the campaign that led to the destruction of the Ayodhya mosque in 1992 by Hindu extremists. Has since [...]