Infringement in CM’s private life

Chief minister Nitish Kumar is known for keeping his public life and private life in two different spheres. He does not mix the two. But some ministers, legislators and JD(U) party leaders infringed the dividing line when Amitabh Bachchan visited his official residence.hen the Big B came to the city and visited 1 Aney Marg, the chief minister had planned it to make it into a family affair. The Big B was signing autographs for the family members of the chief minister when a large number of gatecrashers - ministers, legislators and leaders - entered the premises determined to rub shoulders with Bachchan. “Normally it does not happen. One stare by the chief minister is enough to send a message that he or she is not welcome and he meets only those people he wants to. But in this case, the aura of the megastar was so great that several gatecrashers ignored the chief minister’s stare,” an official said.

 

Race for hot seats

Fith director-general of police (DGP) Neel Mani scheduled to retire by the end of this month and chief secretary Anup Mukerji to follow suit next month, the secretariat is abuzz with talks about senior IAS and IPS officers lobbying for the two hot seats. “The aspirants for the seats are visiting every person they think can put a word to the chief minister. Of course nobody has dared to go to the chief minister himself,” a senior IAS officer said, stressing that the question “who would be the next boss” was being debated in virtually every office in the secretariat. Lobbying is an old trend and happens every time the top post of the police or the administration is scheduled to be vacant. Old-timers recalled that a senior IPS officer lobbying for the DGP’s post warned his rival IPS officer not to approach a senior politician of the state. “I have already done it,” he told the rival police officer. The person did become the DGP of the state.

Miss food

A senior minister of the Nitish government appears to be very unpopular with his personal staff and security personnel. They stress that the minister will not allow them to “eat” in events he attends. “When functions are held in posh hotels of the state capital, the food is served after the programme. Our minister does not even wait for the programme to end and simply rushes to his car to go to his next destination. We are forced to leave the venue with him while the staff of other ministers and VVIPs enjoy the food,” the security guard of the minister said, stressing that his minister never ate in hotels and preferred home food. An executive of an event management firm pointed out that there should be more ministers like him. “Usually if a minister takes food one has to add the cost of around 20 more plates for his securitymen, personal staff and drivers,” he said.

 

No money, honey

Senior politicians travel without a penny. Chief minister Nitish Kumar announced at Kalyanbigha on Thursday that people could become JD(U) members only after planting trees. The same rule was applicable for membership renewal, he added. The chief minister planted a sapling to renew his party membership but was seen fumbling for Rs 5 - the membership fee. Party MLC Sanjay Singh gave him Rs 5. A JD(U) leader said: “Big leaders not having a penny in pocket is a tradition. Whenever Lalu Prasad needs money he depends on his associates,” a JD(U) leader said.