P.C. Alexander's resignation as Maharashtra governor took political circles by surprise, triggering a round of wild rumours in the capital. Most political pundits seemed to agree that Alexander had been "slighted" by the ruling NDA over the presidential nomination. To everyone's surprise, the former bureaucrat gladly accepted the offer of a Rajya Sabha ticket from the NDA with additional support from Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party. Just a day earlier he had stated that he never sought public office. Moral of the story? Some bureaucrats tend to be closet politicians.

Presidential Predicament

LOVE MATCH: Kalam with Mrinalini

It was a big day for Thiruvananthapuram when both the presidential candidates arrived in the city last week. While A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was in town to unveil the statue of his mentor Vikram Sarabhai at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Captain Lakshmi Sahgal came to attend a series of political functions. But what generated more buzz was the presence of another celebrity at both the events-ace dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai with her daughter Mallika and son Karthikeya in tow. After inaugurating the function at VSSC where she shared the dais with Kalam, Mrinalini dashed off to be with elder sister Sahgal.

"I'm caught between two persons I love so much," said Mrinalini, when asked about the presidential contest. "Kalam was my late husband's closest sishya and Lakshmi is my affectionate jyeshtathi (elder sister). Mrinalini also queried: "What about the idea of making him unanimously the President and her the Vice-President?" If only life was that simple.

HIC HIC HURRAY: The newly appointed Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee President Arun Singh Munna has managed to convince the party high command about his reformed drinking habit. Or else why would Sonia Gandhi tell a delegation protesting his appointment that "he does not drink during the day"?

BIG SHIFT: When two of his batchmates in the Defence Ministry got promoted as secretaries last month, a special secretary pleaded to be shifted out rather than work under them. The gentleman, Ajay Vikram Singh, is the new revenue secretary.