FEATURE, INDIA

LIST OF THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE IN INDIA – PM NARENDRA MODI TOPS THE LIST WHILE YOGI ADITYANATH ENTERS THE LIST OF TOP 10 POSITIONS

The list of top 50 most powerful Indians published by the Indian Express Groups claims that the first three positions of 2016 has been retained by the earlier toppers — Prime Minister Narendra Modi at No. 1, BJP president Amit Shah on No. 2 and RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat on the third position — but with a difference. Take a look at The Indian Express power list of 2016-17 not just to see who are the most powerful 100 in this country of a billion plus. Look at it, also, to get a sense of how, over the past year, power has changed hands — and how power itself has changed.

Rajesh Ghadge

Published: 29, Mar 2017

RANK 5 – Ajit Doval, 72

National Security Advisor | (Rank 2016: 18)

THE REASON

Because he is the most important bureaucrat in the Modi government. He has the Prime Minister’s ear on everything, from foreign policy and the challenges of terror to negotiations with the Naga rebels.

THE WORK

Following the public announcement of the surgical strikes in PoK last November, he is said to have controlled the flow of information and played a key role in shaping the narrative.

THE SECRET

To quickly gauge the Trump administration and work on common areas so that New Delhi is able to tap into the new Washington.

NOTE: Still responds to every single soldierly salutation in his office with a loud and brisk “vishraam, araam se”.

COMING UP THE NEXT ON RANK 6 ARUN JAITLEY