(G.N.S) Dt. 31
New Delhi
If some top sources are to be believed it has become a tough task for the newly elected CM of Himachal Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu to sum up the game going on in the chilling Shimla. Several senior civil servants have been trying hard to win the coveted post of Chief Secretary and thus mutually differing and mutually conflicting equations have emerged. The final outcome is expected shortly.
Ram Subhag Singh (IAS:1987) is the senior most, followed by his wife Mrs Nisha Singh (IAS:1987) with residual service up to July 2023 and November 2024 respectively.
Further, Sanjay Gupta (IAS:1988) and Prabodh Saxena (IAS:1990) are considered among the strongest contenders who have adequate tenure in service up to May 2026 and March 2025 respectively.
Previously, Ramsubhag Singh, Nisha Singh, and Sanjay Gupta were superseded by RD Dhiman; the outgoing Chief Secretary retiring today and is all set to take over as the State Chief Information Commissioner.
A section of senior bureaucrats believes that if the BJP had returned to power one of these contenders could have been the foremost choice for the CS post but now, it’s an open contest.
There were rumors that Ali Raza Rizvi (IAS:1988) might be recalled from the Centre but according to a section of key officials, it appears unlikely. In addition, another senior union secretary K Sanjay Murthy (IAS:1989) is also said to have been aspiring for the CS post in the state but that too appears unlikely.
What may swing a surprise is that one of the top contenders serving in Cadre, presuming his counterpart’s bright prospects in the event of BJP’s return to power, got his vigilance clearance questioned in the HP High Court through proxy litigation. Not only this, the contender is lobbying hard through Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri.
Amid various pulls and pressures, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu’s task becomes tough to arrive at a suitable, acceptable, and sustainable in the selection of the new CS.
