Service at all costs

While Pratibha Patil made her presence felt on the very first day of assuming office by changing the top presidential staff, she has stuck to a trusted aide from her Jaipur days to manage her daily schedule and screen visitors. The Air Force officer, keen to serve the supreme commander, has gone out of his way to ensure Patil8217;s smooth transition from Jaipur to Delhi. As he could not be immediately appointed as Patil8217;s ADC, the young Squadron Leader sought 40 days leave from the Air Force to serve the President. Even after running into administrative trouble as the Home Ministry objected to his presence at Rastrapati Bhavan, the officer ensured his continued services by moving to a guest house near the President8217;s residence. The grapevine is that even the IAF8217;s personnel planning department is unaware of his newly gained stature. It is being assumed he8217;s still on leave.