Ananth Kumar, 54,
Constituency: South Bangalore (Karnataka)
Ministry: Chemical and Fertilizers
Having defeated technocrat Nandan Nilekani and retaining his Bangalore South seat for the sixth time in a row, Ananth Kumar was almost a certainty for a Cabinet berth. Kumar began his political career as a leader of ABVP , BJP’s student wing, and joined the party in 1987.
He and former CM B S Yeddyurappa built the party together in Karnataka and the duo would be described as the Lava-Kusha (the sons of Lord Ram and Sita) of BJP .
They later became rivals and the relationship was restored only a few days prior to the 2014 LS poll. This time, he has again pipped BSY to a berth.
