From being a tainted regional politician to becoming one of the strongest global names to echo in the political corridors. The second most followed politician on twitter in the world the Indian Prime Minister is currently leading the audience poll in race to be declared as TIME's person of the year with almost 11% votes.
Putin at the Grand Kremlin Palace
For those who thought the new global order had no place for obsolete Russia were clearly wrong. If there is one man whose popularity hasn't swayed be it in his country or even abroad it's Mr Putin.
Taking the historic plunge to normalise tension with the US Putin has been appreciated world over for his predicament on diplomatic and political relations. Currently Putin is just behind Modi with about 7% of total votes pooled in till now.
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The US President's right hand men and women in the form of Secretary of State have always emerged as powerful global figures. Kerry no different has been flying all round the globe not just managing crisis but also building greater relations. Reason enough for him to be trending at no 3 on the list with over 5% of votes.
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17 yes that’s right at just 17 she became the youngest person ever to win a Nobel. Lot of women may have taken a bullet to themselves but who would have thought it would be for the sake of education.
Malala did not just the impossible but also became a household name for her heroic act. She just did not stop there but actively campaigned and worked for the cause she believed in, reason enough for the Nobel to have chosen her for the award. The only non politician to be trending so high on the list.
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Elon Musk is revolutionizing two industries at once, disrupting traditional automakers with his electric car maker Tesla and shaking up spacecraft with SpaceX.
A relative newcomer to aerospace, in September SpaceX won a $1.6 billion contract with NASA in September to resupply the International Space Station with its rockets and launchers. SpaceX's ultimate goal? To enable people to live on other planets. Wow that’s definitely why he’s high up on the popularity list before any businessman.
Doctors carrying out Ebola infected vessel in Sierra Leone
Who in today's world would walk into terrains that haunt of death. But the brave doctors and nurses dealing with the deadly Ebola have done it for the greater cause.
At the risk of being self infected these brave men and women have had to fight a different war altogether. Reason enough the readers have rated them so high on the list.
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We often talk of fighting discrimination towards transgenders and empowering them but few actually believe in them. Laverne has become a household name after being the first transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy award.
The hugely popular television star from the hit series 'Orange is the new black' has surpassed various celebrities to be ranking high up on the list
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The former Secretary of state may have lost the presidential elections but her popularity ain't going down any soon. He fire power brand has managed to floor all who see her as an embodiment of inspiration.
Students taking the ICE bucket challenge in Ney York
Pete Frates and Matt Quinn not just made the Ice Bucket challenge an internet and celebrity phenomenon but also raised a cool $100 million for the ALS foundation.
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These rankings just reflect the current trend.
Voting is on till 6th of Decemeber and everything could change by then. Some of the other big names on the nomination list include Apple CEO Tim Cook, Pope Francis, Alibaba Magnet Jack Ma, Pop star Taylor swift, talk show host Jon Oliver, and even the internet heartthrob Kim Kardarshian along with her husband Kayne West.
Surprisingly some big names like the US President Obama and Germany's chancellor Merkel have not gained too much popularity among the readers.
And ofcourse we will be waiting for the 10th of December when both the reader's choice and the Editor's choice will be out for all to see.
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