Mani Shankar Aiyar is a former Indian diplomat who resigned from Foreign Service and became a politician working for Rajiv Gandhi in 1989-1991. He is a member of the Indian National Congress party and was the Minister of Panchayati Raj until he lost his seat in the 2009 Election. He served as the Union Cabinet Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas from May 2004 through January 2006 and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports till 2009. Mani Shankar Aiyar served 26 years in IFS of which, the last five years were spent in deputation to the Prime Minister's office under Rajiv Gandhi. He took keen interest in grass roots democracy, India's foreign policy with the neighboring countries and West Asia and nuclear disarmament. He worked in the Indian Diplomatic Missions in Brussels, Hanoi and Baghdad. He also worked as the Private Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Internal Trade from 1970 to 1971 and was chosen as the India's first ever Consul-General in Karachi in 1978 where he continued till 1982. From 1982 to 1983, he worked as the Joint Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs and served as an Advisor to the Information Minister from 1983 to 1984. In 1989, he resigned from the service to take up a career in politics and media. In 1991, he was elected to the 10th Lok Sabha from Mayiladuthurai. In 1992, he joined All India Congress Committee (AICC). In 1998, he became the secretary of AICC and in 1999, was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha from Mayiladuthurai. He was elected <b>...</b>