The news that Mani Shankar Aiyar, the intellectual-politician has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha, made me ecstatic.
I hail from Porayar in Mayiladuthurai constituency from where Aiyar was elected to the Lok Sabha during 1991, 99 and 2004. In the 1998 elections, when Aiyar contested as an independent following difference of opinion with the then Congress president Sitaram Kesari, I was one among the hundreds of youths who rallied behind him. Though he lost the elections, he had garnered over 77,000 votes on his own.
My father, being a senior Journalist, had very close interactions with Aiyar.
I can definitely say that Aiyar was certainly the best MP we have ever seen. He nurtured the constituency very well since 1991, the year of his political debut. Even his opponents admit that he has resorted to honest politics all along.
The specialty of Aiyar was that he moved very close to common men. Even when he served as Union Panchayati Raj Minister, anyone could approach him anytime. Not only that, people could easily confront him.
I remember an incident, when my father once publicly questioned him what steps he had taken to remove the anomalies in telephone rentals in our area. My father's questions were harsh, but Aiyar tackled them nonchalantly. Even after that incident, Aiyar never bore any grudge against my father. He gave him interviews as usual, came to our house during his election campaign and treated him with all kindness.
His Services to Mayiladuthurai through the MPLADS scheme - road laying, contribution for hospital and school buildings, community halls, bus shelters, crematorium sheds and his industrialisation efforts, service to the tsunami survivors and Kumbakonam fire victims, rural development through the Rural Business Hub scheme were also simply great.
It is quite unfortunate that he lost the elections (2009) at a time when the Congress party has emerged much stronger. Though he has lost the elections, he has won hearts.
Aiyar was adjudged one among the best performing ministers in the previous UPA Government. He has indisputably been an outstanding parliamentarian.
Moreover, he never feared to speak his mind. He had great plans for the 'Aam Aadhmi' and was certainly a humane Minister.
Aiyar's works during the past five years as Union Minister in charge of Petroleum, Panchayati Raj, Sports and Youth Affairs and North Eastern States Development have been phenomenal.
Recognising his past services, Prime Minister Dr Singh should re-induct him to the cabinet allocating the same Panchayati Raj and DoNER ministries, in National Interest.
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