Who is he?
Mr.Jairam Ramesh is India’s Minister of Rural Development. His ministry is responsible for accelerating socio-economic development across rural India. He represents Andhra Pradesh as a Congress Party member of parliament in India’s upper house, the Rajya Sabha.
Jairam Ramesh. Source: Wikimedia, U.S. Government Work.
Why has he been in the news?
The Indian elections, which begin this month, have been shaped as a frenzied personality contest between Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the campaign for the Congress Party, and Narendra Modi, the prime ministerial candidate of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Mr.Ramesh is a strategist and an advisor to Mr.Rahul Gandhi.
With the opinion polls projecting a huge loss for Congress, Mr.Ramesh has blamed poor communication from the top for the party’s floundering campaign. He has also recommended a retirement age of 70 for Congress leaders in order to promote a generational shift in its leadership.
What can we expect from him?
Regardless of the outcome of the election, Mr. Ramesh will play a crucial role in advising Mr.Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders, on how to revamp the party’s image, platform, and leadership. If the Congress party somehow holds onto power, he will likely be given an important ministerial position, and will ensure that flagship programs of the government such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) continue to be implemented successfully. His heavy personal interests in social issues and environmental protection may be a factor in determining economic policymaking in a Rahul Gandhi government.
