The most powerful Indians in 2012: No. 51-60

51. Pawan Munjal, 57

MD & CEO, Hero MotoCorp

New on the list

WHY

Pawan Munjal successfully managed Hero Honda's parting of ways with Honda Motor Company. He now steers the newly-christened Hero MotoCorp into the future without the formidable Japanese bike major for tech support.

POWER PUNCH

Four years ago, Munjal is said to have brought together around 40 key executives to chart out new business opportunities. A consulting firm was roped in to prepare a report. His early homework kept him in good stead.

WHAT NEXT

Munjal and his top team have upgraded Hero MotoCorp's R&D team with more than 200 engineers. On the anvil is a concept series hybrid scooter, which Munjal thinks could be a game-changer. He's also said to be looking at global opportunities.

BY THE WAY

He is an avid golfer.

52. Sushil Kumar Modi, 60

Deputy CM, Bihar

Rank '11: 62

WHY

He is the pivot of an alliance that is crucial to the future prospects of the BJP-led NDA. At a time when the NDA is a much-diminished version of itself, the BJP-JD(U) alliance in Bihar is indispensable to its fightback at the Centre.Though Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is much feted for putting the state on the growth track, Modi is the underestimated deputy and Finance Minister whose sober style has never let attention be diverted to the inner dynamics of what is still seen as a not-so-natural alliance.

POWER PUNCH

Having presided over the BJP's dramatic strike rate of 89 per cent in the 2010 Assembly polls, Modi has quietly but surely used the ensuing year to lay low his rivals in the state BJP.

WHAT NEXT

Modi must ensure that the BJP-JD(U) coalition in Bihar remains stable till the 2014 parliamentary polls as it will be crucial to any revival of the NDA at the Centre.

... contd.

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