HEALTHY CORPS

India’s health policies should benefit from the entry of these healthcare professionals from fields as diverse as cardiology, psychiatry, Ayurveda and homeopathy

- Ajay Sukumaran, Arkamoy Datta Majumdar, Amitabh Srivastava, Rahul Noronha, Dhaval S. Kulkarni, Amarnath K. Menon, Prashant Srivastava, Anilesh S. Mahajan and Jumana Shah

THE DEBUTANTS | DOCTORS

C.N. MANJUNATH, 66

BJP | Bangalore Rural, Karnataka

When Dr Manjunath puts his heart into politics, the electo­ ral operation is bound to be successful. A lesser mortal may perhaps have felt shaky taking on Karnataka deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar’s brother, the two­term MP D.K. Suresh, but clinical precision is the exact forte of the eminent cardiologist and Padma Shri awardee. There is already a ‘Manjunath Technique’ for Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty, the term could soon signify political acumen as well. Having transformed the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research into one of Asia’s premier cardiac care centres over his 18­year tenure as director, the son­in­ law of former PM H.D. Deve Gowda exemplifies how a government heart institution can provide affordable world­class care.

SAMBIT PATRA, 50

BJP | Puri, Odisha

His sharp wit and cutting commentary on TV in his role as national spokesperson of the BJP betray no hint of his past as a trained surgeon, or his brief stint as a medical officer at the Hindu Rao Hospital in Delhi. His political journey has long overshadowed that entry on his CV. What remains is the rollercoaster ride that has been his political career—from losing his first election as a BJP candidate for the post of councillor in Delhi’s municipal corporation polls in 2012 to winning the prestigious Puri seat on a second try.

RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY, 47

BJP | Muzaffarpur, Bihar