The Congress is unhappy with the decision to give Power Secretary R.V. Shahi a two-year extension. It appears that 10 Janpath wanted the PM to stick to the guidelines of not giving bureaucrats extensions. Shahi, whose contract expired on January 4, was initially given an extension till January 31. Power Minister P.M. Sayeed virtually pleaded for his extension, but the Congress leadership wanted another bureaucrat with a technical background to be appointed in his place. The decision to appoint scientist C.N.R. Rao head of the scientific advisory board has led to an unenviable situation, as former nuclear scientist R. Chidambaram is already scientific advisor to the Cabinet.
