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| Edited By: Nivedita Mookerji |Source: DNA |Updated: Mar 29, 2018, 04:18 AM IST
The race for the chairman’s position at the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is learnt to have narrowed down to two — YS Bhave and Anil Razdan. However, Arun Ramanathan’s name hasn’t stopped doing the rounds.
It was a crowded contest till recently, with several bureaucrats (both serving and retired) eyeing the post. Sources, however, said things can change even in the last moment and a surprise candidate may be named the chairman of Trai. Nripendra Misra’s term ends on March 22.
Bhave, secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, stands a good chance because he was earlier with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and is therefore familiar with the sectoral issues.
Another positive for Bhave is his engagement with consumer-related issues in his current position.
In the advertisement for the post of Trai chairman, special knowledge of consumer affairs has been highlighted.
Bhave is a Maharashtra cadre IAS officer of the 1972 batch.
Razdan, former power secretary, is also being looked at as a strong candidate for the top post at Trai. He was a Haryana cadre IAS officer of the 1973 batch.
Sources pointed out that the regulatory regime in the power sector is similar to that in telecom. And that makes Razdan score over others. Also, since he is not in the government any longer, it’s easier for him to join Trai.
A bureaucrat in office must resign before he can be appointed Trai chairman.
Although finance secretary Arun Ramanathan’s name has been doing the rounds as a likely candidate for the post of Trai chairman, it is learnt that he may be considered for the position of Election Commissioner. Ramanathan is due to retire in April too.
DoT secretary Siddhartha Behura was also in the running for Trai chairman, but his name is not being considered now.
Before Nripendra Misra took over as the chairman three years ago, Pradip Baijal was at the helm of Trai. Former SBI chairman MS Verma was named the first chairman of the reconstituted Trai in the year 2000.
