Prasanta Chatterjee: In close to 10 years -- two five-year terms -- Chatterjee, 59, has taken Calcutta from rock-bottom to slightly better. In places roads look better, there are more street lights, less filth and more water supply. Critics say that this has more to do with Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, and that inefficiency has cost the cmc Rs 300 crore in unclaimed taxes over five years.

K.H.N. Simha: As corporator, hizzoner had vehemently opposed foreign jaunts. Last week, the 61-year-old, who assumed office as Bangalore's mayor in November 1998 -- a year's term -- got back after a fortnight's trip mainly to Hawaii for a conference on pollution. He got his job thanks to former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda who wanted an SC/ST or minority candidate in the post. Period. Meanwhile, Bangalore slides to be a civic basket-case -- almost. And there's still the Rs 13 lakh Hawaii tab to explain away.

"Nandu"Satam: The most powerful mayor in the country, some say too powerful. Last April, Mumbai's first mayor under the council system empowered the mayor in almost every aspect of city life, including land. Close to Bal Thackeray, the 48-year-old has courted controversy over releasing reserved park land for builders and curbing bureaucracy. Satam brushes away all cribs and says he's just keen on slashing costs in the bloated corporation which is Rs 650 crore in the red.

M K Stalin: The 44-year-old son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi promised "Singara" or clean Chennai. Two years on, he oversees a metro going to seed -- dead street lights, strewn garbage, potholed than roads. Stalin is now on a comeback mode. The state Government has agreed to fund 10 flyovers, and a new 60 km storm-water drain system is nearing completion. It should help Stalin; his stint is a test before being named Karunanidhi's political heir.