Top bureaucrat and PM's confidant may be next Cabinet Secretary

The recent visit of Pulok Chatterjee, a 1974 batch Indian Administrative Service officer and an Executive Director of the World Bank, to New Delhi has fuelled speculations that the top bureaucrat may be pulled out of his current assignment and appointed as the Prime Minister's Secretary.

Speculations are rife that Chatterjee is on his way to the coveted post of the Cabinet Secretary, and he may be formally appointed by early next year.

During his visit, Chatterjee met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjeee and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Chatterjee had made a halt at Delhi after his visit to Bangladesh to review the progress of the WB projects in the country.

Chatterjee found himself in the good books of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, and consequently Sonia, during his stint as the district magistrate of Rae Bareli. He has also handled crucial subjects as a member of the National Advisory Council.

Chatterjee has earlier served in the Prime Minister's Office as an additional secretary to Dr  Singh

Sources say that Chatterjee's absence was being felt by both 7 Race Course Road (Dr Singh's residence) and 10 Janpath (Sonia Gandhi's residence), as he is a close confidant of both leaders. He is likely to be asked to return to Delhi, cutting short his tenure in the  World Bank, say sources.