KM Chandrasekhar is ahead of Paul and Duggal in race for Delhi Lt Governor’s post

Chandrasekhar In A Happy Mood (File Photo) 

CABINET secretary KM Chandrasekhar’s post retirement assignment is almost ready. Chandrasekhar, India’s top bureaucrat and the sole 1970 batch IAS to remain in service will retire on June 14, 2011, but he is likely to become Lieutenant Governor of Delhi soon after. Chandrasekhar has emerged as the front-runner after chief minister Sheila Dikshit has put her foot down saying that he does not want any of her own ex-officer taking up this assignment.

Though former Delhi police commissioner KK Paul and former Union home secretary VK Duggal are strong contenders to succeed Tejender Khanna in Delhi’s Raj Bhawan, Delhi CM has conveyed it to the home minister that she does not want someone to be Lt Governor who had earlier worked under her. Whereas Paul was her police commissioner, Duggal had earlier worked as municipality commissioner in Delhi government. In protocol, Lt Governor is above the chief minister. Paul is the husband of Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee’s all powerful advisor Omita Paul.

Also, there are speculations about Chandrasekhar taking the position of TKA Nair as the principal adviser to PM if Dr Manmohan Singh decides to send Nair to a Raj Bhawan. Some argue that India’s executive director in the World Bank and 1974 batch UP cadre IAS Pulok Chatterji has a better chance to occupy that important position in South Block. Chatterji had earlier worked closely with former PM Rajiv Gandhi and UPA chairwoman Sonia Gandhi, and is quite close to 10 Janpath.

Action and Appointments

a) The Central government with the concurrence of government of Madhya Pradesh, has  approved the premature repatriation of Ms Kamini Chauhan Ratan, a 1997 batch UP cadre IAS, presently on inter-cadre deputation, from Madhya Pradesh to Uttar Pradesh.

b) Ms Minakshi Ghose, a 1981 batch IA and AS officer has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of disinvestment.

c)Vijay Bhushan Pathak, a 1990 batch Sikkim cadre IAS, has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of atomic energy.