Pulok Chatterji has leftist leanings, never too enthusiastic about PM’s US focus, claims Baru book

Pulok Chatterji (right) with Manmohan Singh

IF Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s former media adviser Sanjaya Baru is to be believed, “affable, pipe-smoking and understated” Pulok Chatterji has leftist leanings. That’s not all. Baru’s new book, “The Accidental Prime Minister” also claims that Chatterji, thanks to his leftist leanings, was never too enthusiastic about Dr Singh’s focus on improving relations with US, a serious charge hurled against one of the top bureaucrats of UPA’s rule for the last 10 years. In UPA-I, Chatterji was a powerful…

What Sanjaya Baru’s book says about TKA Nair and Pulok Chatterji; PMO reacts

SANJAYA Baru, former media adviser to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called PM’s adviser TKA Nair “a bureaucratic lightweight” who except for a stint in the IK Gujral’s PMO, had neither held the rank of secretary in “any of the powerful ministries on Raisina Hill-home, finance and defence-nor in any key economic ministry”. Baru’s 301-page book titled “The Accidental Prime Minister--The Making and Unmaking Of Manmohan Singh”, published by Penguin, has not even spared current principal secretary Pulok Chatterji, who “like Nair, suffered from…

A joint secretary ranked officer wanted in Raebareli. Will he fly high?

ARGUABLY India’s most powerful bureaucrat and principal secretary to PM Pulok Chatterji was the district magistrate of Raebareli, traditional bastion of Gandhi-Nehru family. That was three decades ago. He was an outstanding officer from day one, but his proximity to Gandhi family has always contributed to his excellence in bureaucratic career. For joint secretary-ranked officers, here is a chance to take up a job at Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh where…

Know Pulokaseth of Delhi’s corridors? Chatterji-Seth combo ranked as 3rd most powerful bureaucrat

Seth-Chatterji

BoI has always called this combo, of principal secretary to PM Pulok Chatterji and his batch-mate, friend and cabinet secretary Ajit Kumar Seth, as Pulokaseth. Between the two, Chatterji is more authoritative and decisive. But Seth’s indispensability had emerged when the Prime Minister took a call to extend his two-year tenure by one more year in May last, even as then DoPT secretary PK Misra was considered...

How Pulok Chatterji is turning into an infrastructure driver; Will he succeed?

Pulok Chatterji with PM (File photo)

COME Friday, principal secretary to Prime Minister Pulok Chatterji will sit on the driver's seat to push select infrastructure projects including rail, port, airports etc. worth over Rs 1 lakh crore. Many in the corridors thought Chatterji was brought into PMO in October 2011 cutting short his World Bank tenure, mainly to co-ordinate with 10 Janpath and push government's...

Pulok Chatterji puts up a smiley front; shows there is nothing to worry about

Pulok Chatterji (Left) caught with a smile!

IT'S a rare moment to spot top bureaucrat and principal secretary to PM Pulok Chatterji with a smiley face, at least in a public function. In most occasions this powerful but media shy bureaucrat remains outside the reach of TV and still cameras, and where he has no options but to be seen alongside the Prime Minister, he looks serious and even hassled. Then, what was this occasion in the midst of current political uncertainty, where Chatterji and a minister of state in UPA government were spotted while sharing a lighter moment?

Coal Block De-allocation: Who is Zohra Chatterji, her career & controversies

Zohra Chatterji

ADDITIONAL secretaries usually live in oblivion. In most cases, they are the financial advisers for the government departments with no authority on any vertical. But 1979 batch additional secretary level IAS officer Zohra Chatterji has turned lucky. The UP cadre officer, who had earlier steered the Coal India Ltd as its interim head, has been hogging the limelight ever since her Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) on coal was entrusted the daunting task of deciding the fate of coal blocks allocated to the private parties between 2005 and 2009. The next IMG meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, but here BoI attempts to give a snapshot of Zohra Chatterji as a person, her credentials and controversies:

India's Most Powerful Bureaucrats, 2012; Pulok Chatterji tops BoI list

Pulok Chatterji (Middle). Menon, Mathai are also seen

THE final BoI List of India’s Most Powerful Bureaucrats, 2012, is here. And this is the fourth year in running, www.babusofindia.com has come out with the list of 5 most powerful Indian bureaucrats. This time, the selection is based on opinion of about 100 people including politicians, bureaucrats and civil society activists who understand the nuances of corridors of power: who goes up and who is lagging behind. The power list incidentally includes a seasoned diplomat, a state chief secretary and even a joint secretary for the first time.
And ladies and gentlemen, the most powerful Indian bureaucrat in 2012 is none other than…

PM’s infra target meet was a Pulok Chatterji show; coal added later

Pulok Chatterji

PRIME Minister-convened meeting to set new infrastructure targets for FY 2012-13, was actually a Pulok Chatterji show. During the last few days, Chatterji, principal secretary to PM had a series of informal, and also formal, meetings to arrive at a consensus on what should be the government’s investment targets in the backdrop of dismal GDP number of 5.3 percent for the country which often packages itself as the second fastest growing large economy in the world.

In fact, Planning Commission first proposed a set of targets for five sectors: power, railways, roads, shipping and civil aviation. But the targets were substantially...

Pulok Chatterji’s last two batch-mates due to retire next month

KM Acharya

THE last two officers belonging to the IAS batch of Pulok Chatterji and cabinet secretary Ajit Kumar Seth, are retiring next month. KM Acharya and Ranjana Chawdhary, both from Madhya Pradesh cadre are the last of 1974 batch IAS who are in service, and due to retire only next month. Chatterji’s task as principal secretary to Prime Minister is a post-retirement assignment and Ajit K Seth who would have retired last November is on a fixed tenure of two years.

In fact, KM Acharya, currently secretary in department of social justice and empowerment, was recently given the additional charge of the post of secretary, department of disability affairs. Ms Chawdhary is chairperson of Professional Exam Board in Madhya Pradesh. It’s a secretary-level post.

Action and Appointments

a) Ms Vibha Puri Das, a 1976 batch Uttarakhand cadre IAS, presently secretary, department of higher education in the ministry of human resource development, has been appointed as secretary in the ministry of tribal affairs in place of Arvind Kumar Chugh, a 1974 batch Jharkhand cadre IAS who had retired.

b) Ashok Thakur, a 1977 batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS, presently special secretary in the department of higher education, has been appointed as secretary in the department of higher education.

c) The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has modified its earlier order and approved that Anil Swarup, a 1981 batch UP cadre IAS, may continue as additional secretary in the ministry of labour and employment for the balance period of his tenure.

Pulok’s trusted man Jawed Usmani may be named India’s next commerce secretary

Jawed Usmani, a 1978 batch UP cadre IAS and one of Pulok Chatterji’s most trusted men, is likely to be named as India’s next commerce secretary. As incumbent Rahul Khullar of 1975 batch is likely to take up an assignment at Brussels in March, the government may bring in star bureaucrat Usmani who had two innings in Prime Minister’s Office, the first between 1996 and 2001, and then under Manmohan Singh between 2004 and 2007. Usmani then moved to Washington DC to join as senior adviser to India’s executive director in the World Bank. Being the senior most IAS of 1978 batch, Usmani’s appointment will also mean all his secretary-empanelled batch-mates immediately getting an elevation from the current rank of additional secretary to the position of special secretary.
A product of IIM-Ahmedabad, Usmani is also armed with a degree of MSc, social policy and planning from London School of Economics. Since November 2010, Usmani has been on sabbatical, and was based in New York. He was affiliated with Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI) under the University of Pennsylvania as a visiting scholar, doing research on climate change and India.

Both in PMO and World Bank, Usmani worked under Pulok Chatterji, current principal secretary to PM. The cabinet secretary with suggestions from PM (read principal secretary to PM) decides secretary’s placements.

DIPP secretary PK Chaudhery, a 1977 batch Haryana cadre IAS and his batch-mate and financial services secretary DK Mittal are the two other contenders for the coveted commerce secretary’s position. Chaudhery has recently been given additional charge of the textile ministry after Rita Menon’s retirement. Mittal is also a contender for another key post, DEA (department of economic affairs) secretary that may crop up soon, as 1976 batch Tamil Nadu cadre IAS R Gopalan is retiring in April 2012. A 1977 batch UP cadre IAS, GC Chaturvedi, who is now the petroleum secretary, may also be considered for the post of DEA secretary. Once Usmani is placed, another 1978 batch IAS Arvind Mayaram, who had a long innings in finance ministry, may get a secretary’s posting in one of the economic ministries.

The Kolaveri of dejected Indian bureaucrats: Why This Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Sir?

Pulok Chatterji

THE year 2011 is a story of Soup Indian Bureaucrats who are frustrated to say: Why did you do this to me? Soup is a Tamil word used for guys who fail in love. But for babus in corridors, it’s not about love but of continuous onslaught from all quarters: judiciary, media, civil society, investigators, protestors and Generation F (read Facebook). The bureaucrats, who have over the years successfully managed and even manipulated the system, are visibly on a back-foot. For the lazy ones, it has been a blessing in disguise as there is virtually no pressure on them to perform. But for the restless adventurous lot, it has been a frustrating year as the entire system has broken down, and the brighter ones too have succumbed to the safe formula of “no decision is good decision”.

Can Pulok Chatterji, principal secretary to PM and one of India’s most powerful bureaucrats, give a helping hand? The bureaucrats seem to sing alike: Why This Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Sir?

Only recently, a Tamil song Why This Kolaveri Kolaveri Di, meaning Why did you do this to me, got viral in the net and attracted over 24 million viewers in the You Tube within a month. Singer Dhanush, who incidentally is superstar Rajinikanth’s son-in-law, begins the song with words Soup song, Flop song…

Here are 7 things that are threatening to convert the great story of Indian bureaucracy a Soup song, Flop song.

1. Tihar Jail

Never before top Indian bureaucrats saw their colleagues heading towards Tihar jail for signing documents asked by ministers. Insiders who smelled wrong-doings while distributing 2G licenses, are convinced that Siddhartha Behura, a 1973 batch IAS, might not have a party to the entire conspiracy as he signed the documents barely 10 days after joining as telecom secretary. Behura has been languishing in jail along with his political master A Raja, India’s former telecom minister, from February 2 2011.

2. Wrong Companion

All bureaucrats who were directly or indirectly indicted for the wrongs in Commonwealth Games 2010 somehow escaped with very mild punishments like transfer to the parent cadre. But the developments post-Games sent scary signals to bureaucrats at large. The morale of the story is: A wrong company of political masters may lead you straight to the jail.

3. RTI

The bureaucrats knew it from Day one that Right to Information Act (RTI) would force them to be ultra-cautious in writing each word and taking every decision. But the way it has unfolded now, the bureaucrats are forced to raise more questions on the file so as to play safe in the event of the file-noting getting leaked through an official RTI.

4. CBI, CVC

Managing investigators is now a taboo. After all, CBI is often monitored by judiciary and I-T sleuths at times turn adventurous and target high and mighty among IAS.

5. Hunting The Retired

If the CBI raid on former telecom secretary Shyamal Ghosh is any indication, a bureaucrat may be hauled up for his decision even after a decade of retirement. In case of Ghosh, a 1965 batch retired IAS, CBI sleuths landed up at his residence nine years after retirement.

6. No Thanks to Plump Posts

The bureaucrats who till a few months ago wanted “plump posts” in economy ministries like finance, roadways, tourism, commerce and industry, are now shying away from grabbing those. What they want now are "safe" jobs in social sector ministries. On a bad pitch, saving the wicket is more critical than hitting fours and sixes.

7 Awarding contracts

A bureaucrat awarding a contract now must gather intelligence on a number of aspects which he could have conveniently ignored earlier. Is the company a front of a bigger entity? Has your minister entered into a conspiracy with one of the bidders? Will the company getting the award be merged on a future date with another company where your relative works? The bureaucrats now need to be visionary and at times even muster astrology to understand “presumptive losses” that would possibly be calculated 5 to 10 years from now!

The bureaucrats have found their Future Dark’ku… Here is what an Indian bureaucrat seems to say:

Hello Pulok Sirji… I am Singing Song…

Soup Song… Flop Song…

Why This Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Sir?

Why This Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Sir?

Rhythm Correct…

Why This Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Sir?

Maintain This…

Why This Pulokaveri? Sir..

Anna’la Anna’nu Anna’nu

Anna’nu RTI’ru RTI’tu

Tihartu Background Night’tu Night’tu

Night'tu Tihar’ru Tihar’ku

Why This Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Sir?

Why This Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Sir?

CBI’tu CVC’nu CBI’lu CVC’lu

CBI’lu Heart’tu Black’ku

File’su File’su Meet’tu Meet’tu

My Future Dark’ku…

Why This Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Sir?

Why This Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Pulokaveri Sir?

Back in PMO: Pulok Chatterji joins as principal secretary to Prime Minister

FINALLY, the most talked about Indian bureaucrat Pulok Chatterji is back in corridors of power. A few hours from now, Chatterji, a 1974 batch UP cadre IAS and close confidante of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, is taking charge as principal secretary to PM replacing TKA Nair. Chatterji was called back from his current position of executive director of the World Bank even before his term ended. Nair, who has been anchoring the PMO from May 2004, will continue to remain in PMO at least for time being as an adviser to PM in the rank of a minister of state.

On September 5, BoI (babusofindia.com) while declaring Chatterji as the 2^nd Most Powerful Indian Bureaucrat, 2011, said: “Chatterji’s joining the PMO as the top bureaucrat may even facilitate Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi’s elevation to the top job in the event that 79-year-old Manmohan Singh demits office before May 2014. Chatterji is supposed to be an effective conduit between the PMO and 10 Janpath, ensuring fast-tracked implementation of flagship schemes that may determine the fortunes of the UPA-II in the next general elections.”

Two years ago, BoI ranked Chatterji as the most powerful Indian bureaucrat despite being stationed in US. That surprised many readers. But most insiders in Raisina Hill knew it for sure that Chatterji who was Manmohan Singh’s private secretary and then secretary in PMO during UPA-I would eventually take the centre-stage. He is a rare bureaucrat who has direct access to 10 Janpath, the official residence of Sonia Gandhi. Chatterji first came into contact with the Gandhi family when he was the district magistrate in Rae Bareli in 1980s. He then became a director in the PMO during Rajiv Gandhi’s time. Later he became a secretary (joint secretary equivalent) in Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in early 1990s, and then private secretary to Sonia Gandhi when she was the leader of the Opposition.

Chatterji’s entry into PMO is likely to strengthen the National Advisory Council (NAC) headed by Sonia Gandhi, as many of its high profile activist members are currently unhappy with a number of government decisions including Planning Commission’s recent definition of rich at Rs 32. NAC secretary Rita Sharma is his batch-mate from the same UP cadre. With Chatterji at the helms, NAC’s views and suggestions are bound to be taken more seriously by babus in every ministry.

Action and Appointments

a) Kumar Sanjay Krishna, a 1985 batch Assam cadre IAS, is now pursuing a DoPT-sponsored advance certificate course in public administration in Syracuse University, USA. The course will end in December. Krishna had earlier served as a director in PMO and joint secretary in finance ministry.

b) BK Sinha, a 1975 batch Bihar cadre IAS, and rural development secretary has been given additional charge of the post of secretary in the ministry of drinking water and sanitation for a period of three months.

c) The government has extended the term of Gokul Chandra Pati, 1978 batch Orissa cadre IAS and additional secretary in department of agriculture, for three months beyond October 6, 2011.

d) Unmesh Sharad Wagh, a 2000 batch IRS officer and former OSD to then minister of state for communication and IT has now become the private secretary to the minister of state for coal Pratik P Patil at the level of a deputy secretary.

BoI Power List: Pulok Chatterji ranked 2nd most powerful bureaucrat, 2011

TWO years ago, when BoI (www.babusofindia.com) ranked Pulok Chatterji as the most powerful Indian bureaucrat despite being stationed in US, many readers got surprised. BoI then said: “A 1974 batch IAS from Uttar Pradesh cadre, Pulok Chatterji could now be posted far away in Washington DC as an executive director of the World Bank, but his one phone call carries more weight than many important files doing round the power corridors of Delhi.”

Pulok Chatterji, who is joining as principal secretary to PM in the first week of October, is ranked second in BoI list of 5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats, 2011. But what makes him so special and powerful? There is no prize for guessing. Chatterji’s proximity to UPA chairwoman Sonia Gandhi says it all.

Chatterji’s joining the PMO as the top bureaucrat may even facilitate Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi’s elevation to the top job in the event that 78-year-old Manmohan Singh demits office before May 2014. Chatterji is supposed to be an effective conduit between the PMO and 10 Janpath, ensuring fast-tracked implantation of flagship schemes that may determine the fortunes of the UPA-II in the next general elections.

Chatterji’s personal equation with Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s family goes back to the days when he was Rae Bareli’s district magistrate in early 1980s. The bond only got strengthened when Chatterji became director in the PMO during Rajiv Gandhi’s time, a secretary (joint secretary equivalent) in Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in early 1990s, and then private secretary to Sonia Gandhi when she was the leader of the Opposition.

No wonder, when 64-year-old Ms Gandhi was reportedly admitted in New York’s Sloan-Kettering hospital for an undisclosed surgery in August, it was Chatterji who according to some sources, arranged all the logistics keeping the Indian Embassy in Washington in dark. The big question here is: Will Chatterji be able to play key role in improving UPA-II’s deteriorating health?

Who replaces who in PMO rejig?

AS several officers are on their way out from India’s Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), here are the replacements.

IN: Pulok Chatterji, a 1974 batch IAS who is recalled from his World Bank assignment half-way. Is joining as secretary, PMO, in place of MN Prasad. He could be elevated to principal secretary if TKA Nair is given a Governor’s post.

OUT: MN Prasad, a 1972 batch retired IAS officer, is likely to replace Pulok Chatterji in the World Bank. Prasad, a Bihar cadre officer has continued in the PMO after his retirement.

IN: BVR Subrahmanyam, a 1987 batch Chhattisgarh cadre IAS. Joining as joint secretary in PMO. Subrahmanyam was the private secretary to PM between 2004 and 2008, and then was on a World Bank assignment.

OUT: Vini Mahajan, a 1987 batch Punjab cadre IAS. Also, Sanjay Mitra, a 1982 batch West Bengal cadre IAS who remained in PMO for over six years, recently joined Mamata Banerjee government as principal secretary.

IN: Sanjay Lohiya, a 1994 batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IAS and Krishan Kumar, a 1997 batch Punjab cadre IAS. Both are joining as directors in PMO.

OUT: Ashish Gupta and DPS Sandhu, both directors. Sandhu, an Indian Information Service officer who had also served PM’s media adviser during the fag-end of UPA-I, is heading for a World Bank assignment. 

Pulok Chatterji is back in PMO; likely to be “eyes and ears of Sonia in PMO again”

IT’S official now. 1974 batch UP cadre IAS Pulok Chatterji, who is known for his proximity to UPA chairwoman Sonia Gandhi, will be back in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) triggering speculations that principal secretary to PM, TKA Nair could be made a governor in a few days time. Chatterji, who had an earlier innings in the PMO as PM's private secretary and then secretary during the UPA-I, was recalled from his World Bank assignment mid-way. He was to complete his World Bank tenure early next year.

When BoI (babusofindia.com) released its first list of 5 Most Powerful Bureaucrats in August, 2009, it placed Chatterji at the top which had surprised many. How could someone stationed in US be more powerful than TKA Nair? BoI then said: “Pulok Chatterji could now be posted far away in Washington DC as an executive director of the World Bank, but his one phone call carries more power than many important files doing round the power corridors of Delhi. But what makes him so special and powerful?”

After all, Chatterji was the “eyes and ears of Sonia in PMO” as was said by fellow bureaucrats and politicians. He had served as district magistrate of Rae Bareli in early 1980s, a director in the PMO during Rajiv Gandhi’s time, a secretary (joint secretary equivalent) in Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in early 1990s, and then a private secretary to Sonia Gandhi when she was the leader of the Opposition. He is a highly efficient officer with a clear focus on delivery.

Chatterji is unlikely to face any resistance from any officer. Cabinet secretary Ajit Seth himself is his batch-mate and belongs to the UP cadre.

Action and Appointments

a) Home secretary RK Singh is leaving for Thimphu on Thursday to attend the 4th meeting of interior secretaries of the SAARC nations to be held there on the July 22. This will be his first foreign visit after taking over as Union home secretary recently.

b) Anand Bardhan, a 1992 batch Uttarakhand cadre IAS has been appointed as Counsellor, Community Affairs (Development) in the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi for a period of three years.

Ajit Kumar Seth appointed as next cabinet secretary; what’s in store for Pulok Chatterji?

WHEN all powerful man in PMO Pulok Chatterji dictated terms in Raisina Hills during UPA-I, his batch-mate from the same UP cadre Ajit Kumar Seth was the resident commissioner in New Delhi’s Uttar Pradesh Bhawan. Seth had a higher rank in 1974 batch IAS merit list, but no one even bothered to bet for Seth that this man from UP might one day snap the country’s top bureaucratic job. For six long years, Seth -- known for his honesty and meticulous work -- remained a mere resident commissioner in UP Bhawan. Finally, he got the break when he was appointed as secretary, coordination and public grievances in cabinet secretariat in January, 2009. And the rest is history now.

Ajit Kumar Seth has been appointed as India’s next cabinet secretary from June 14, 2011 replacing his four year senior KM Chandrasekhar. He will be an OSD till he takes up the assignment in mid-June for a period of two years. For the last two years, many veteran bureaucrats like current Member Secretary of Planning Commission Sudha Pillai, her husband and home secretary GK Pillai and their batch-mate M Ramachandran, all from 1972 batch, lost the race for the top job as incumbent Chandrasekhar secured two serial extensions. Now, Seth will have the privilege to become the boss of two of his seniors, home secretary Pillai and defence secretary Pradeep Kumar at least for a month.

A post-graduate in chemistry from St. Stephens college, Seth struck the right chemistry with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh when the former got a chance to interact with the PM several times during his two and half years old stint at the cabinet secretariat. Seth has a master’s degree in development finance from Britain’s University of Birmingham too. As a junior officer, Seth had worked in the ministry of textile, and one of his few important assignments was the First Secretary’s position in Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations at Geneva, Switzerland in 1980s.

The big question now is what Pulok Chatterji would get once he is back from his World Bank stint. Will Chatterji be made the Principal Secretary to PM paving the way of two UP cadre batch-mates, Seth and Chatterji, calling the shots in Delhi’s corridors of power? But that can be a possibility only when master bureaucrat TKA Nair heads for a Raj Bhawan!

Bong age in Raisina Hill: Bengali Bhadralok Pulok Chatterji’s possible homecoming next year may change power dynamics

CALL it a resurgence of Bengali babus in power dynamics of Raisina Hills. If Pulok Chatterji, 1974 batch IAS officer known for his proximity to 10 Janpath, is back in corridors of power as cabinet secretary next year, it could be the beginning of Bengali Bhadraloks’ super-challenge to the dominance of Malayali officers that has prevailed for the last few years. Mr Chatterji (in picture) who was an influential secretary in PMO during UPA-I, is now India’s executive director in the World Bank. Yes, Kissinger-type master bureaucrat and principal secretary to PM TKA Nair who every Kerala cadre officer looks upto for suggestions, will remain strong next year too, but the sheer rise of Bengali secretaries in key Central government departments may rewrite the script of power equations on community line.

In fact, the coming of the Bong age in Raisina Hills was demonstrated recently in a party organized by Tarun Das, ex-chief mentor of the industry lobby CII and Shekhar Datta, ex-MD of Crompton Greaves at New Delhi’s Jor Bagh area. According to reports, revenue secretary Sunil Mitra of 1975 batch, divestment secretary Sumit Bose of 1976 batch, agriculture secretary Prabeer Kumar Basu of 1976 batch, chemicals secretary Bijoy Chatterjee of 1973 batch and government’s chief statistician Pronab Sen and his elder brother and Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen, hobnobbed with a select few from corporate India. And the menu included chingri malaikari (prawns in coconut gravy) and luchi (puris) in addition to some typical Bengali delicacies brought specially from famous restaurant, ‘Oh Calcutta’.

In fact, the induction of Sunil Mitra and Sumit Bose, both finest Bengali officers, into the finance ministry at the behest of finance minister Pranab Mukherjee in January this year gave an early indication that Bengali officers may now occupy influential positions. (Read: FM gets Bengali officers)

The other influential Bengali secretaries in Delhi include tourism secretary Sujit Banerjee of 1972 batch, cultural secretary Jawahar Sircar of 1975 batch, public enterprises secretary Bhaskar Chatterjee of 1975 batch and Dr Srikumar Banerjee, secretary of department of atomic energy to name a few.

Action and Appointments

a) Goa’s leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar has demanded a senior IPS officer or the CBI should investigate the death of tourism minister Francisco 'Mickky' Pacheco’s close friend Nadia Torrado.

b) Chhattisgarh Congress has slammed the move to reinstate Babulal Agrawal, a 1988 batch Chhattishgarh cadre IAS as probes by Economic Offences Wing and the Income Tax department are continuing.

Read

IAS with 220 bank accounts