Inheriting sleepless nights

One of the many things that have changed in Defence Minister AK Antony’s life since he left the Kerala chief minister’s job and came to Delhi are his sleeping habits. An early-to-bed-early-to-rise kind of person, Antony used to be asleep by around 10 at night and was up by around 5.30. In his current job — he is one of the key strategists for the party — he told journalists, ‘people call up at 11 pm and say let’s meet at night!’. Party insiders recall that when Pranab Mukherjee was asked to look after the external affairs ministry and his charge was given to Antony, Mukherjee called up his close friend and said, “Antony, I am gifting you all my sleepless nights.”