Race begins for post of CabSec
The race to occupy the Cabinet Secretary’s post has begun. Current Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar completes his tenure on June 13 after what will be a fairly long innings of four years as the country’s top-most civil servant.
While there is some speculation that he might get yet another extension raging from three to six months, bureaucrats in contention have already thrown their hats into the ring.
If the government decides to go by the norms, it will be looking at names belonging to the 1974 batch of the IAS to appoint the next Cabinet Secretary. Among the front-runners are believed to be Mr Anup Mukerji, who is currently chief secretary in Bihar and is known for his administrative competence. Yet another person whose name is being mentioned as a possible Cabinet Secretary is Mr Ajit Kumar Seth, who is secretary (public grievances and co-ordination) in the Cabinet Secretariat at present. Mr Seth belongs to the UP cadre.
Also in circulation is the name of Mr K. Mohandas, who is secretary, ministry of shipping. A Keralite belonging to the Kerala cadre, it is his state of origin that may work to his advantage, quipped a senior government official.
Other names being bandied about as possible successors to Mr Chandrasekhar are the present secretary in the department of personnel and training, Ms Alka Sirohi, who belongs to the MP cadre. Similarly, the names of ministry of minority affairs secretary Vivek Mehrotra, and K.M. Acharya, secretary, ministry of social justice and empowerment, are also being mentioned in connection with the top post.
The name of Mr Pulok Chaterji, who belongs to the UP cadre and is known for his proximity to 10, Janpath, was said to have been in the reckoning at one point. However, as per current indications, Mr Chaterji is unlikely to return from his World Bank assignment in which he still has got some months to go.
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