For Chidambaram, it is business from Day 1

At about 7.30 pm, Palaniappan Chidambaram's first day in office was far from over. He was still having a discussion with Chief Economic Advisor Ashok K. Lahiri.

It was business from day one chock-a-block with official meetings. As soon as he entered his North Block office a little past noon in his crisp white veshti and shirt, he called for a meeting with his secretaries, DC Gupta, Vineeta Rai, D Swarup, Ashok Lahiri and NS Sisodia. Cameras flashed for some time before he closeted himself with the team for about an hour.

Earlier, he remembered names of mediapersons and even before his discussion with the secretaries, he informed them about a briefing at 1 pm. Barring a Thanjavur painting, the Finance Minister's room had little colour and was kept simple. Four telephone instruments stood out prominently on his clean table.

In the Press briefing, Chidambaram fielded questions quite deftly. When countered with a cheeky one if another VDIS can be expected, the minister quickly retorted, "Do you have any personal stake?" without quite losing his cool.

During the day, he met Vijay Kelkar, advisor to the Finance Minister. While one does not know for sure, the word in the North Block corridors is that Kelkar might just continue.

Besides meeting some of his key secretaries individually, Chidambaram also met TKA Nair, the new principal secretary in the Prime Minister's Office and the secretary in the personnel department.

Finance Ministry sources said there were hardly any corporate honchos calling on him the first day. A senior official said Chidambaram was sharp on the uptake and did not require any briefing on the last five years' policy stance.

"He is rather looking for fresh ideas to generate resources for increased public investment," the official said.

During the next couple of days, Sebi chairman GN Bajpai, RBI Governor YV Reddy and IRDA Chairman CS Rao are expected to call on him.

It must have been a hectic day for the FM today then? "But he appeared relaxed," said another official.

Tomorrow, Chidambaram is expected to be in office at 9.30 am.