Tea for two8230;

Its called the RTI effect these days. The UPA,which piloted the idea and made it a law,now finds its top three ministers grappling controversial issues that have come out in the open due to this law. This irony again created a buzz in government corridors after it came to light that Army Chief Gen V K Singhs age controversy resurfaced due to an RTI application and has now turned into Defence Minister A K Antonys biggest headache. Antony joins his colleagues Pranab Mukherjee and P Chidambaram who also faced a difficult time after a Finance Ministry 2G document revealed through the RTI. Every now and then,wily bureaucrats remind their political bosses about former British Prime Minister Tony Blairs autobiography in which he regretted passing a freedom of information law in the UK,which hugely embarrassed him over disclosures on his decision to join the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Newcomer in PMO

Senior NDTV India editor and anchor Pankaj Pachauri is the latest entrant to the PMO. Pachauri is said to have joined the Prime Ministers Office as a communications adviser,though it is still not clear as to what role he will be playing there. Although he has reportedly joined in the grade of an additional secretary and will be reporting to media adviser Harish Khare,speculation has already began on the equation between the two. More than anything,there is keenness to know who really proposed Pachauris name and if this will be a proxy fight between other players in the Congress. Watch this space for announcements, Pachauri wrote on his twitter account on Wednesday but stopped from making the announcement on his own.