With new chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma taking the oath today, the change in bureaucracy is imminent. The new chief minister will first choose officers for his office including his principal secretary and then there is likely to be a massive reshuffle after ministers also are in place.
The principal secretary to CM is likely to be a 1996 batch officer who is considered a quite efficient and effective officer. He has had experience of working in commercial tax department, IT among several key positions.
Kuldeep Ranka, the existing principal secretary to the outgoing chief minister Ashok Gehlot, as a custom, will get an insignificant posting, may be out of secretariat.
The CMO will be manned by the ‘choice officers' of the new CM, who is said to be not much aware of bureaucracy.
The existing chief secretary Usha Sharma is going to retire on December 31, 2023 after 6-month extension. The chief minister Bhajan Lal then has not much to think about her. He will get a new chief secretary in natural course. But the question is who will be the chief secretary. Whether an officer will come from Delhi of centre's choice or Sharma will have the flexibility to choose from the present set of senior officers in cadre posting. If Sharma has to pick from the present set then three officers stand chance – Shubhra Singh, Rajeshwar Singh and Abhay Kumar. Subodh Agarwal is also there in the list but due to ED raids, he may have fallen out of favour. While Shubhra Singh and Rajeshwar Singh, both are from 1989 batch, Abhay Kumar is from 1992 batch. Officer of 1990 batch Sanjay Malhotra and 1991 batch officer Sudhansh Pant are on central deputation. While Malhotra is revenue secretary in union finance ministry, Pant is the health secretary at centre.
Another officer on central deputation, 1989 batch V Srinivas also has an outside chance to become chief secretary. He is currently serving as secretary of administrative reforms department.
Other important departments including DIPR will also get new officers as the new government will need to send communication of new Rajasthan in new way.
The government will also reshuffle collectors. Some are doing good jobs and some are not up to the mark. Those who have performed well will be rewarded with bigger and important districts and those who failed will be removed from district administration.
The effect will also be seen at the level of RAS officers. A long list is expected but it will take some time. At the first stroke, the face of secretariat is likely to be changed.
The commissioners of Nagar Nigams will also be changed to send a message to public that system is going to change with new set of officers.
According to sources, many IAS officers in past couple of days have met chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and deputy chief minister Diya Kumari pushing their candidature for hot posts.
These include officers who were well placed in Congress government and are vying to get equally important posting in this regime also.
“At this level officers should not hardsell themselves. They should maintain dignity. Government can't ignore efficient officers if it wants to serve the people. There are many officers who had good portfolio in BJP government and better in Congress government without lobbying,” said a senior IAS officer.
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