Top official cuts back on media over jealous colleague

DID A SENIOR government official scale down her media engagements after her male counterpart in the ministry allegedly asked the powers that be to rein her in—for fear that she was overshadowing him? Sources within the influential ministry whisper that the male counterpart, a powerful figure and longtime confidant of the boss, allegedly suffers from deep-seated inferiority issues. He is said to have been visibly uncomfortable with the media attention his female colleague was receiving, especially in the early days of the administration. Once a prominent voice in the public eye, the woman suddenly went quiet, abandoning the very media engagements that helped raise the profile of her department.

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SPEAKING OF BEING overshadowed in the corridors of power, there's growing unease in a powerful office over shifting dynamics. A top official is said to beallegedly feeling increasingly sidelined, with his closest advisers warning that unless he speaks up soon, he apparently risks fading into irrelevance—or even losing his post altogether. The discontent reportedly stems from perceived changes in the pecking order. Advisers point to a recent high-profile event, where the said personality was granted a one-on-one meeting with a top state guest, while their man was nowhere.

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THE FASHION CHOICES of a figure closely linked to the power centre have  apparently become a quiet source of embarrassment for insiders. Frequently spotted in supposed oversized suits and worn-out shoes, the man’s style has sparked murmurs among handlers of the powers that be. They reportedly lament that, despite having the means, heallegedly dresses poorly and tarnishes the image of their boss. One recent overseas event especially drew criticism, as he waspurportedly seen in ill-fitting wear throughout. Handlers are now speculating: is this simply his personal taste, his wife’s strategy to keep him low-key, or just a reflection of age catching up?

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EFFORTS BY A once-embattled governor to rehabilitate his image in a key region may finally be bearing fruit. The governor, previously marked out forseemingly singing discordant tunes, was recently welcomed on a red carpet at a key ministry, with his requests promptly granted. Sources say he now has top power figures on speed dial—something unthinkable just months ago, when his apparent fiery rants against the regime had made him persona non grata. But since his dramatic change of tune and pledge of loyalty, the tide has turned: his calls are no longer ignored, state officers respond swiftly to his requests, and talk of impeachment has mysteriously disappeared. Even a combative senior official who had taken to holding weekend rallies in the governor’s backyard has significantly slowed down.