NDC sidelights: Top bureaucrats gather in the calendar's biggest power event

MEMBER Secretary to Planning Commission Sudha Pillai, who was recently elevated to the rank of a minister of state, played a perfect host at National Development Council meet in New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan on Saturday. Wearing a light pink sari, this 1972 batch Kerala cadre retired IAS was welcoming high profile dignitaries of the NDC meet including Union ministers and state chief ministers before accompanying deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia to welcome Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at the venue.
Before PM’s arrival, Ms Pillai was seen exchanging a few words with minister of road transport and highways Kamal Nath who had recently created a controversy by calling the Planning Commission an “armchair adviser”. He husband and home secretary GK Pillai was also seen talking to fellow bureaucrats and saying “hello” to chief minister of Andhra Pradesh K Rosaiah among others. Later, he had a quick lunch before proceeding for the North Block for an important meet with Gorkha leaders.

Before the function began, master bureaucrat and principal adviser to Prime Minister TKA Nair was busy talking to a number of ministers. Another high profile bureaucrat, finance secretary Ashok Chawla, a 1973 batch Gujarat cadre IAS spent some time catching up with fellow bureaucrats and other dignitaries. He was seen talking to a number of officials from other ministries during the lunch too.

At the dining area, food processing secretary Ashok Sinha was called by his minister Subodh Kant Sahai to a corner to discuss about a ministry project when everyone else was enjoying the lunch with peeli dal, chicken curry and fired chicken!

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