24.3.14

All past FMs out of the race!


Never has the economy cast such a looming shadow over any election. Jobs have become a huge concern. A large number of voters may not understand the theory of economic growth, but they sense that the slowdown has severely shrunk employment opportunities. That, coupled with inflation, appears to be dominating public mind space in this Lok Sabha election.
The irony is that regardless of which party comes to office, the next finance minister is likely to be a new face (not that that is necessarily a negative).
Since 1991, when the economic reforms process began, the finance ministers have been Manmohan Singh, P Chidambaram, Pranab Mukherjee, Yashwant Sinha and Jaswant Singh. For one reason or the other, they are all now out of the poll race.
While it is not necessary to win a Lok Sabha election or even be an MP to become a minister, chances are that the new government which assumes office after the general elections may hand over the job to a politician who has never handled such a crucial portfolio before.

IN HOT SEAT SINCE REFORMS
MANMOHAN SINGH
JUNE 21, 1991 - MAY 16, 1996

JASWANT SINGH
MAY 16, 1996 - JUNE 1996

P CHIDAMBARAM
JUNE 1, 1996 - APR 21, 1997

INDER KUMAR GUJRAL
APR 21, 1997 - MAY 1, 1997

P CHIDAMBARAM
MAY 1, 1997 - MARCH 19, 1998

YASHWANT SINHA
MARCH 19, 1998 - JULY 1, 2002

JASWANT SINGH
JULY 1, 2002 - MAY 22, 2004

P CHIDAMBARAM
MAY 22, 2004 - NOV 30, 2008

MANMOHAN SINGH
NOV 30, 2008 - JAN 24, 2009

PRANAB MUKHERJEE
JAN 24, 2009 - JUNE 26, 2012

MANMOHAN SINGH
JUNE 26 - JULY 31, 2012 

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