DNA Special: Race for top babus gets under way

A major bureaucratic reshuffle at the top is on the anvil. The hunt has begun for a new cabinet secretary, topmost position an IAS officer can attain in the country, a Comptroller and Auditor General (Vinod Rai would be retiring shortly), home secretary, foreign secretary and defence secretary.

This may be the last major bureaucratic overhaul during the UPA-II government’s tenure ahead of the 2014 polls.

After facing several embarrassments due to audit report by the CAG, the UPA government is feeling relieved as Vinod Rai’s tenure is coming to an end on May 31. Defence secretary Shashikant Sharma and union home secretary RK Singh are emerging as frontrunners for the key constitutional post. Sources told DNA that telecom secretary R Chandrashekhar is also hoping to grab the key post.

During Rai’s tenure as CAG, the national auditors brought to the fore several irregularities through their reports on 2G spectrum allocation, Commonwealth Games, coal allocation, etc.

Though cabinet secretary Ajit Seth is retiring on May 31, the process of selecting the top babu has already begun. Revenue secretary Sumit Bose (1976 MP cadre), PK Mishra, secretay personnel and DK Sikri, a Gujarat cadre IAS, secretary in law ministry are the likely successors.

Similarly, Ranjan Mathai, foreign secretary would retire on July 31. Three front runners for the top post in foreign affairs ministry are Mathai’s colleagues —  Sujata Singh, who at present is ambassador to Germany, SS Jaishankar, envoy to China and Sudhir Vyas, secretary west in the ministry of external affairs.

Hunt for Shashikant Sharma’s successor as defence secretary does not seem to to be difficult as RK Mathur, who is secretary defence production in the ministry is all set to step into Sharma’s shoes. However, he might face some competition from PK Mishra.

After defence, home secretary is also one of the key posts. RK Singh, Bihar cadre IAS who is set to demit his office on June 30. Three top babus Madhav Lal, secretary in the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises, Dilip Rai Singh, secretary with the steel ministry and PK Mishra, secretary personnel are likely to replace him. 

Last but not the least, R Chandrashekhar is demitting his office as secretary telecom on March 31. He is  likely to be replaced by Pankaj Aggarwal, a 1978 UP cadre IAS working as secretary consumer affairs and food.

@pradiprsagar