OSD to CM Gehlot Anurag Vajpeyi likely to repatriate before Diwali

Anurag Vajpeyi, officer on special duty (OSD) to chief minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to repatriate to his parent department Indian Information Service (IIS) before Diwali.

Vajpeyi, a promotee IIS officer, is on a two year deputation to serve as OSD to Ashok Gehlot. He basically handles public relation of CM.

According to sources, the state government had written to Information & Broadcasting (I&B) ministry to extend the deputation period for a year till November 11, 2024.

The I&B ministry is said to have turned down the request and asked to relieve Vajpeyi till November 11, 2023. He may have to leave his current assignment before elections that his scheduled on November 25, 2023.

Sources said that union I&B minister Anurag Thakur is not happy with Vajpeyi.

Also read : Former OSD to Rajasthan CM, Anurag Vajpeyi transferred to Thiruvananthapuram

“Vajpeyi is a junior officer. It's rare that minister knows the officer at his level. Since he is serving a Congress CM, Thakur knows about him and didn't allow further extension,” said an IIS officer.

Sources said that Vajpeyi may be given a tough posting after his tenure with a Congress chief minister.

Vajpeyi had joined as OSD in 2021 and has been looking after the PR of chief minister.
A native of Bhilwara, Vajpeyi had spent most of the time in service with All India Radio (AIR), Jaipur.

With limited access to media specially national and English media, the projection of CM is said to be of not as per the expectation.

The Rajasthan government then hired Design Boxed, a digital marketing and political campaign management company to enhance public image of Ashok Gehlot. This further limits the role of Vajpeyi in the system.