IAS, show host

A young IAS officer and Rajnandgaon Collector K S Pardesi found himself transformed into a show host at a programme organised by Lanco Infratech Limited in the district. The company had hired a well-known TV anchor for the function. When the programme started, the anchor appeared to have enthralled the gathering, but not, it seems, Chief Minister Raman Singh. He summoned Pardesi and whispered a few words in his ear. Within minutes, Pardesi took over the show. Insiders say Singh was getting late for another appointment and wanted the programme to conclude quickly. Since the professional anchor was slow, Singh asked the district collector to do something about it. Who can blame him from cashing in on an opportunity?