PC best man in Manmohan's team

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New Delhi: Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has been voted the best minister of the United Progressive Alliance Government based on his performance during the past two years.

In a poll conducted by CNN-IBN and IBNlive.com on the second anniversary of the UPA Government, as many as 38 per cent of those who took part in the survey voted Chidambaram as the best member of the Manmohan Singh Ministry.

"He holds the breath and life of investors. So far it has been good breathing for most of them," Richard Kamalanathan, a reader, wrote in his comments to IBNlive.com.

At the Number Two position is Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel. He polled 29 per cent of all votes. "Our Aviation Minister is doing a wonderful job, especially with the way he had managed the strike relating to the privatisation of airports," says Suresch S, another reader.

There is a tie at the number three position with both Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad getting 14% votes each.

Lalu Prasad was voted ostensibly because of his attempts to revive Railways from a morass. "Lalu Prasad is best because he has transformed the Railways into a profit-making unit," wrote Rahul Adukia.

"Lalu is doing something for every citizen of India. He does not discriminate in giving away amenities to people based on reservation or caste system," says Sutanuka Lahiri.

People who backed Kapil Sibal seem very impressed by his stand on the quota issue.

"It has to be Kapil Sibal. The reason is that his is one of very few ministries where opportunities for causing pain, anger, injustice and despair for general public is less," says Gaurav.

"Best is Kapil Sibal (who opposed quota), and the worst has been Manmohan (he is a man without backbone) and Arjun Singh (for divisive politics)," writes Jijo Jacob.

"Kapil Sibal is the best UPA minister, as he stands firm against the reservation of seats for OBCs. Because he knows that he will not be able to get any work done (in Science and Technology, his portfolio). He might not have done any remarkable work, but if he can stop this UPA's proposal, every citizen (anti-quota) will praise him. Then he will undoubtedly become the best minister. However with his current stand, he is eligible to become the best minister in the Cabinet," commented Sandeep.

The rest of the 5 per cent votes were divided among other ministers, prominent among them were Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran and Commerce Minister Kamal Nath. There were also many readers who rated Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh as the worst minister of the Union Cabinet.

The sceptics, however, didn't find any one good enough to make it to the list. "It's foolish to think in terms of 'Best Ministers in the UPA Government' as there are none. This government is totally insensitive to the voice of the people. They are more interested in vote banks and display a sense of dynastic politics," writes Nainaa Bali from Bangalore.

Karthik, another IBNlive.com reader, says: "I think there is no best minister in this present government. If I have to rate one, I will go for the Prime Minister for his good interest and initiative in the nuclear deal as I think this is the greatest achievement of UPA, tackling the Communists, Right to Information and an academician dealing all the politicians is really great."