The most powerful Indians in 2011: No. 31-40

31. Anand Sharma, 58
Union Commerce & Industries Minister 

WHY

This erstwhile relative political lightweight makes it to the list for the first time, and that too pretty high up, because his influence in the party and the government has increased greatly. The Congress big three — Sonia, Manmohan and Rahul — all take him seriously. He took on Jairam Ramesh on the issue of trade relations with China. For the recent Congress plenary session, he was appointed chairman of a committee that drafted the foreign affairs resolution; Pranab Mukherjee was a member of that committee. 

POWER PUNCH
He, along with Mukherjee, had a key role in drafting the Congress’s   read more