Thumbnails: Know your ministers

Vayalar Ravi

Academic qualifications: MA, LLB
Political journey:  Was the founder general secretary of the student’s wing of the Congress, the Kerala Students Union. A two-time LS member. Elected to the Rajya Sabha thrice. Was elected twice to the state assembly and was the home minister in the K Karunakaran cabinet in 1982. Became Union minister for the first time in 2006, holding the Overseas Indian affairs portfolio.


M K Azhagiri

Academic qualification: BA
Political journey: Eldest son of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, he was sent to Madurai to look after the party affairs in the southern districts to pave the way for his brother M K Stalin’s progress towards becoming Karunanidhi’s political heir. He scored a hat trick for DMK by securing victories in three assembly by-elections in  Madurai Central, Madurai West and Thirumangalam constituencies.

Mallikarjun Kharge

Academic qualifications: Law graduate
Political journey: Born in Varavatti (Bidar district), he became the first Dalit law graduate in 1967 in the region. He joined the Congress in 1970. He was elected to the State legislature eight times from Gurmatkal seat. He shifted constituency to Chittapur and marked his 10th victory from Gulbarga.

Farooq Abdullah


Academic qualifications: MBBS from SMS Medical College Jaipur.
Political journey: He is son of founder National Conference leader Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah and has twice been the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.


Dayanidhi Maran

Academic qualification: BA  Economics
Political journey:  The second son of former Union minister and DMK leader Murasoli Maran and the grand nephew of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, he was appointed a cabinet rank minister for communications and information technology during his first Lok Sabha stint in 2004. However, DMK patriarch Karunanidhi asked him to quit over a family dispute.


Jyotiraditya Scindia

Academic qualifications: BA, Harvard University and MBA, Stanford University
Political journey: A scion of the erstwhile royal family of Gwalior and son of the late Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia, Jyotiraditya got elected to the Lok Sabha for the third time from Guna constituency in Madhya Pradesh. He has worked on many committees of the Central ministries.

Vilasrao Deshmukh

Academic qualifications:
B Sc, BA, LLB.
Political journey: He was  the chief minister of Maharashtra twice. Since 1980, Deshmukh handled over a dozen ministries.

Agatha Sangma

Academic qualification:
M A (Environmental Management), LLB, Diploma in Cyber Laws, Diploma in Corporate Laws, Diploma in Human Rights Laws, Diploma in Securities and Investment Laws.
Political journey: The victor from Tura, Agatha is the daughter of NCP leader Purno Agitok Sangma. She was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha in a by-election from Tura parliamentary constituency last year. She is the youngest minister in the ministry.



Jitin Prasada


Academic qualification: MBA. Educated at Sri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University and International Management Institute, New Delhi
Political journey: Elected to the LS for the first time in 2004. Appointed minister of state in the ministry of steel in 2006. He is the son of the late Congress leader Jitendra Prasada, who was political secretary to former PM Rajiv Gandhi. This time he won from Dhaurehra seat.

Sashi Tharoor

Academic qualification:PhD
Political journey: After serving as UN undersecretary general, and losing the election for the post of secretary-general, Tharoor returned to Kerala and was a surprise choice of the Congress party to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Thiruvananthapuram. A prolific writer, he has written 11 books.




Jairam Ramesh

Academic qualifications:  Degree in mechanical engineering
Political journey: He was made minister of state for commerce when Manmohan Singh became prime minister for the first time in May 2004. Singh later gave him the additional portfolio of power.


K H Muniyappa


Academic qualifications:  BA,  LLB
Political journey:  A low profile Congress leader,  but veteran in electoral politics. Was a member of Taluk board
Got elected from Kolar in 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009. Third politician from Karnataka to get elected to the LS in six consecutive terms. Was the Union Minister for State for Surface Transport in the outgoing ministry.


Sachin Pilot


Academic qualification:  Educated at St Stephens College, University of Delhi, Wharton Business School and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, US
Political journey: Sachin was elected for the second time to the Lok Sabha. He won from Ajmer this time. He is the son of late Congress leader Rajesh Pilot.


Kumari Selja


Academic qualification:  MA, M Phil.
Political journey: Elected to the Lok Sabha in 1991. Union deputy minister and later minister of state for HRD. She was minister of state for housing and urban poverty alleviation in the previous govenment.