The diplomats said it was the perception among world leaders that India was becoming a 'deal breaker' that led to his replacement.

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Lipsticks are contagious

After Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad came up with his wacky suggestion of watching television to reduce population explosion, especially for rural folk, his deputy Dinesh Trivedi is now concerned that the heavy metal content in lipsticks needs to be reviewed. The reason: The cosmetic is contagious and can harm men too!

At a recent science conclave in the capital, a professor expounded on the harmful effects of the makeup and exhorted the health ministry to carry out an investigation on the lead content. Last heard, Trivedi had apparently invited the professor to visit him in the ministry to give him more evidence.

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Leaking bottom leads to power loss!

Bureaucrats can sometimes come up with some gems when they draw analogies on the subject they handle. The latest such jewel was from Power Secretary H.S. Brahma, who was both amused and self-critical during an industry interaction. 'My industry has a leaking bottom,' he exclaimed, leaving the audience in splits.

But he was quick with an explanation of what he meant, saying discoms were losing almost 30-40 percent during power transmission and distribution. Brahma was also stern in pointing out that his ministry would not allow this indefinite manipulation and mischief to continue.

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Chipping away at VIP security

After deciding to withdraw security cover to 30 VIPs in the X category, including former chief justice Y.K. Sabharwal, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Jagdambika Pal and ex-MP Govinda, the home ministry is happy that it has made a good beginning in this long overdue exercise.

With this, the list of X-category protectees has come down to 20 after a detailed review by security and intelligence agencies. The ministry's next task is to prune the next category. VIP security is broken up into four levels - Z plus for the top of the heap, followed by Z, Y and X categories.

However, those involved in this sensitive exercise feel their real challenge will be to whittle down or even dispense with the bodyguards of a majority of the other 395 VIPs in the capital, many of whom have had this cover purely as a status symbol. After the first cut, the ministry has already been flooded with requests of VIPs to continue their police cover. The million-dollar question is will the ministry yield?

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Maharashtra polls: Here's the tricky question

With assembly elections announced for Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh, the tricky question of choosing the right candidates has begun. In Maharashtra, where the Nationalist Congress Party-Congress alliance has been in power for 10 years, talks are yet to begin between party stalwarts to seal their electoral pact.

Congressmen say the NCP's majordomo, Sharad Pawar, is bound to drive a hard bargain this time around to corner more seats for the 288-strong assembly, considering his party put up a better show in the last election.

But, thankfully, talks have been postponed for two weeks now because of 'pitru paksha' (ancestor worship) period that is considered inauspicious. Defence Minister A.K. Antony, who is in charge of Maharashtra, has now more breathing space to work out the party's strategy.