Next, please?

The corridors of North Block are buzzing with speculation over the identity of the next expenditure secretary when R S Gujral retires next month. Insiders say the Haryana cadre official is unlikely to get an extension because it has "rarely happened before" for a November retirement, even though the Budget exercise would have begun. But the chances of an extension for Gujral are also weaker because there will only be an interim Budget before the general elections. One of the names in contention, therefore, is Shaktikanta Das, additional secretary in the department of economic affairs. Rumours are also doing the rounds that financial services secretary Rajiv Takru might be moved into North Block as expenditure secretary and Das could go to the banking division in his place.