He is a career United Nations diplomat, an acclaimed novelist and a cricket aficionado, among other interests.

At the moment though, with India backing his candidature on Thursday for the top UN post, it is anybody’s guess where Tharoor’s priorities lie.

“I must be congenially promiscuous because I think all three are first loves,” Tharoor often says to those seeking to unmask the real man behind the suave and articulate UN Undersecretary-General.

“It’s only just that I try and emphasise one or another at different times.”

China, which took the presidency of the UN Security Council in April, insists the next UN chief should come from Asia when Annan retires at the end of the year.

Although Tharoor, 50 this year, will have some tough competition from Asia, he said his chance of winning the post was “as good and as bad as anyone else’s.”

“I have devoted most of my adult life to the United Nations in which I believe deeply and passionately and I am honoured to be given an opportunity to lead it,” he said in New York.

Other Asians in the running include South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Sri Lankan diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala.

Tharoor has so far served in humanitarian affairs, UN peacekeeping and in Annan’s executive office.

A graduate from Tuft’s University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, he also has a doctorate and two masters degrees and is considered among the most versatile UN officials.

Tharoor began his career in 1978 on the staff of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, moving on three years later to run the agency’s office in Singapore and then joining the peacekeeping department in New York in 1991.

After Annan became secretary-general in 1997, he joined his executive office, and in 2001 became an interim head of the public information department. He was named undersecretary-general of that department in 2002.

Away from the humdrum of a diplomat’s life, Tharoor has authored nine books, including three novels and a collection of short stories.

His most acclaimed book, ’The Great Indian Novel’, weaves 20th century India into the ancient epic ’Mahabharata’.

The most recent, a collection of essays called “Bookless in Baghdad,” was published last year.

Tharoor, who is separated from his wife, is the father of twin sons.