Santosh Bagrodia: An industrialist by profession and a politician by passion, Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader Santosh Bagrodia (68) brings with him the legacy of social service. A three-time MP from Rajasthan, Bagrodia’s political career spans over 23 years. He entered active politics in 1975 after two decades of social work and assisted Congress in many elections in Sikkim, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Tripura, Punjab and Delhi. He was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1986 and re-elected to the House in 1998 and 2004. Born and educated in Kolkata, Bagrodia is known for his services to the under privileged.

Rameshwar Oraon: From police service to politics, the career of this tribal leader spans over 30 years. Hailing from Chianki Palamau in Jharkhand, Oraon, a Congress MP from Lohardaga Reserve seat, did his PhD in Economics before joining the police service in 1972. He took voluntary retirement to join politics in 2004 and was elected to the Lok Sabha the same year. A sports enthusiast, Oraon has served as president of the Jharkhand Hockey Men’s Association.

V Narayanasamy: AICC general secretary V Narayana-samy, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2003 from Puducherry for the third time, hails from a farmers’ family in Poornankuppam. He was first elected to the Upper House in 1985 and retained the seat in 1991. A practising lawyer before plunging into politics in 1985, he was associated with the Youth Congress. He was imprisoned for participating in agitations when Indira Gandhi was held in 1978. Narayanasamy is the first Rajya Sabha member from Puducherry to become a Central minister.

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