Filing the blanks

Ever since Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s name was announced as the UPA’s candidate for president, almost every car that stops in front of Gate No 2 of North Block these days catches the attention of onlookers. That’s because the number of visits from high-profile people – leading politicians and prominent businessmen – has increased. What transpires in the meeting only Mukherjee and the visitor can tell, but that doesn’t stop ministry officials from speculating that they all want their “files to be closed” before a new finance minister takes charge.