NEW DELHI: After transfer of Delhi Chief Secretary (CS) MM Kutty, three senior AGMUT cadre IAS officers are in race for the coveted post. Currently working as Home Secretary in Delhi government Manoj Parida, who was recently transferred from Chief Secretary of Puducherry is the first in race. This month, Delhi PWD Secretary Ashwani Kumar relieved Parida.
Parida, hails from Odisha and is an officer of the 1986 batch of the AGMUT. He had assumed charge in June 2015. His over two-year tenure coincided with a period of intense power tussle between Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi and Congress' Chief Minister V Narayanasamy.
On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Secretary MM Kutty was appointed as Additional Secretary in the Union Finance Ministry, according to an official order. Kutty, a 1985 batch IAS officer of union territories cadre, was appointed Chief Secretary of Delhi in November last year.
According to well-placed source, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) called up a meeting with Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal and outgoing Chief Secretary MM Kutty to discuss for Delhi Chief Secretary appointment issue.
The second most viable chances of success for Delhi Chief Secretary ,1986 IAS officer of AGMUT cadre Anshu Prakash. Prakash is presently working as Additional Secretary in Rural Development in Centre. Prakash served as different capacity such as Transport Secretary as well as Joint Secretary in the Health and Family Welfare department of Delhi government.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia urged that the L-G office will follow up old tradition before appointing CS to take advice from the elected government. The AAP government could not suggest any name for the top post.
Third in race is senior IAS officer and Principal Secretary (finance) SN Sahai, who is likely to get a chance of Chief Secretary post. Sahai is presently working as Principal Secretary (finance and home) in the Delhi government. He several times held additional charge of Chief Secretary in absence of Chief Secretary.