In Indian politics, it is tough to recall a rise as meteoric as Dayanidhi Maran's and a fall as hasty as his.
A shy but shrewd businessman till 2004, Maran was the natural choice to step into the shoes of his father Murasoli Maran as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's man in New Delhi.
A debutant member of Parliament, Dayanidhi Maran was entrusted the key information and technology ministry despite an obvious conflict of interest (his family owns the Sun television network), thanks to the clout his granduncle Karunanidhi enjoyed.
In just days shy of three years as minister, Dayanidhi had harnessed more than $10 billion in investments into the country.
But he was one of those scions who act faster than they can think.
The beginning of his end was when he allegedly tried to arm-twist the Tatas into parting with 33 per cent shares of their ambitious Direct-to-Home project, seriously denting his image.
Finally, by rubbing the family patriarch the wrong way in trying to lock horns with heir apparent M K Stalin, he spelled finis to his short political career.
Photograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images
Also read: The rise and fall of Dayanidhi Maran
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