P. Chidambaram

Palaniappan Chidambaram is a lawyer-politician in the best traditions of Indian politics. He holds degrees in law (Madras) and management (Harvard) and is a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India. Elected to Parliament first in 1984, he has been returned five more times from his constituency, Sivaganga, in Tamil Nadu. Chidambaram has been a minister in the governments of Rajiv Gandhi, Narasimha Rao, Deve Gowda, I.K. Gujral, and now Dr Manmohan Singh. He has held a variety of portfolios but is best known for his stewardship of the Ministry of Finance from 1996 to 1998 and again from 2004.