Race for next CS begins in power corridor

Hunt for new chief secretary has intensified as Ashok Jain is left to serve only a week the topmost post until December 31. The power corridor in chief minister office (CMO) is mulling ACS (forest) NC Goel, ACS (Finance) DB Gupta, ACS (Administrative Reforms) Vipin Chandra Sharma and ACS and director general (HCM, RIPA) Gurjot Kaur, the second senior most IAS, for the coveted post.

A Hamlet-like situation of ‘To be or Not to be’ is posed before the state government, seriously, this time in the selection of the bureaucrat for chief secretary post. Goel, an 82 batch officer, who was considered for the top office twice, emerges a sublime choice in the race. Albeit, his selection comes with a question- why the government would appoint a bureaucrat who will get retired just four months in April end. This question fades in the light of the appointment of current Jain who served the post merely for six months, though.

In terms of tenure, efficiency and proximity to the power center of the CMO, an 83 batch officer Gupta come up in the list of probables with more strength. With ample time as his service would terminate by September 2020, Gupta is currently looking affairs of the state’s finance under CM Vasundhara Raje. In last four years of Raje government, he held most important offices- UDH, PWD, Infrastructure, Energy and PHED which reflects his CV stamped with the trust of Raje. Despite being a top choice for important assignments, a but is quite obvious- why he was not preferred when Raje appointed Jain and OP Mina as CS in last one and half year.

If the track of Raje government is seen in the appointment of chief secretary, it is quite clear not superseding the seniority unlike the selection for DGP. OP Mina and current CS Jain had grabbed the post to this seniority parameter along with caste equation. So, if the parameter is adhered then Kaur may be emerged as the dark horse. She, an 81 batch office, stands at second place in the seniority (excluding CS Jain), much ahead to Gupta and Goel, both. Ashok Shekhar, currently posted as chairman of Indira Gandhi Nahar Board, is at the top in the seniority, though. Both top senior-most officers may be in the race with fewer chances until a theory is answered- why they were kept out of the secretariat. Generally, it is a trend that some senior officer occupy berths in the power corridors of the secretariat.

In a sudden development, the Raje government recently gave entry to Vipin Chandra Sharma, an 82 batch officer, in the secretariat while appointing him ACS (administrative reforms). He was given poor portfolios like Rajasthan foundation, minority affairs in past four years so far but his entry in the Secretariat once again has fueled speculation. He is at six position in the seniority tally and a batch junior to Rajhans Upadhyay, who is currently ACS (education). Sharma will get retired in March 2018, though.      

PROBABLES

• The power corridor in chief minister office (CMO) is mulling ACS (forest) NC Goel, ACS (Finance) DB Gupta, ACS (Administrative Reforms) Vipin Chandra Sharma and ACS and director general (HCM, RIPA) Gurjot Kaur, the second senior most IAS, for the coveted post.