Gracious hosts

...by the way

 

Gracious hosts

 

It was a festive atmosphere on Civil Services day. Most of the officers started reaching much before the Prime Minister arrived. Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth and Sanjay Kothari, Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, an IAS officer of 1978 batch Haryana cadre, proved to be a good host. Mr. Seth was seen personally receiving the invited guests and his old colleagues, former Cabinet Secretaries Prabhat Kumar and Naresh Chandra. T K A Nair was seen talking to Ministers Jairam Ramesh and Salman Khurshid and many secretaries. Pulok Chatterji, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, also came early and was seen mingling with senior officers. Most of the officers were seen saying hello to him, though a courteous Pulok Chatterji did not speak much to the guests. Ajit Seth by nature loves to maintain a low profile and this was evident at the time of the lighting of the lamp, where he requested Pulok, Shiv Shanker Menon and T K A Nair to light the lamp after the Prime Minister. He was the last one to light the lamp. Seth is completing two years as Cabinet Secretary on June 13. Sources say that Manmohan Singh desires to extend his term for one more year. He has proved his worth by performing excellently and he has a tight grip on issues as a Cabinet Secretary. As this is the election year, it will be a good decision if his term is extended as this will ensure a smooth functional atmosphere in the PMO. It is felt if a new incumbent is appointed, he will take time to acclimatise himself in this high profile and sensitive post. g