What works in his favour
- Suave, affable, articulate, untainted by scandal, barring the DDCA issue last year
- Loyalty to Narendra Modi goes back to the 1990s; has championed PM’s post-2002 legal defence
- As a lawyer, has represented politicians and corporates; is one of the party’s main fund-raisers
- Has conducted several BJP election campaigns and knows the party’s organisational strengths and weaknesses
- Social skills, in short supply in the BJP, have helped him build contacts across different parties
- TV-friendly face; has proprietors, editors, anchors, journalists and gossip columnists on speed dial
- As ASG and law minister, built a vice-like grip on the judiciary; several judges said to be his ‘appointees’
- Remains a formidable speaker in Parliament; led Opposition in RS to much acclaim during UPA-II
What goes against him
- Too much of an...
