Rajagopalan, one of the favourite bureaucrats with chief minister Narendra Modi, is scheduled to retire in July.
Learning a lesson from the experience early this year when the central government refused extension to Gujarat director general of police (DGP) PC Pande in his post, the Gujarat government may play it safe and not seek extension for Doraiswami Rajagopalan’s term as chief secretary.
Rajagopalan, one of the favourite bureaucrats with chief minister Narendra Modi, is scheduled to retire in July. Rajagopalan, who Modi appointed chief secretary in September last year surpassing nine senior IAS officers after retirement of Dr Manjula Subramaniyam, was tipped to one-year extension.
It was largely believed that Gujarat government will request the Centre to extend Rajagopalan’s term for another 14 months following the latter’s suggestion that tenure of top officials like chief secretary and director general of police (DGP) should be of minimum two years.
Highly placed sources in the state government said, “No proposal has been sent to the central government seeking extension of Rajagopalan’s term as chief secretary.
Also there is no order or suggestion from the higher authorities to send recommendation to Centre for Rajagopalan’s term extension. He will retire as scheduled. The chief minister is busy in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, so the decision on Rajagopalan’s successor will be taken only after completion of the poll process.’’
Rajagopalan had joined Gujarat cadre of civil services in 1974. He started his career in 1976 as assistant collector. Throughout his career, with Gujarat and central governments, he worked in industry, commerce and finance departments. He has also been credited for the success of Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit in 2003 when Gujarat badly needed an image makeover following the 2002 riots. He also contributed in successful hosting of the Vibrant summits in 2005, 2007 and 2009.
Sources said that, “At present, names of two senior IAS officers — Achal Kumar Joti, additional chief secretary, general administration department, and Balwant Singh, additional chief secretary, home department — are under consideration for the post of chief secretary.”
Two others who are seniors to Joti and Singh are already out of race. Additional chief secretary Gurcharan Singh has already been out of government as he now serves as director, Mahatma Gandhi Labour Institute, while Sundaram Chandrasekhar, managing director, Gujarat Sheep & Wool Development Corporation Ltd, has not even been promoted to additional chief secretary.
“VN Maira, principal secretary, GAD (planning), has also been not promoted to additional chief secretary, so he also has a slim chance to become chief secretary,” the sources said.
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