Nitish carries out major bureaucratic reshuffle in Bihar

Barely two days after taking reins of the state once again, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday carried out a major bureaucratic reshuffle.

The mass transfers were expected as also along the predictable lines.

Though the new government made sure that not all officers of the erstwhile Jitan Ram Manjhi regime were "shunted", they were moved from the ‘key’ departments.

In all, 26 senior IAS officers and three IPS officers were shifted.

The two key posts of home secretary and principal secretary to the chief minister witnessed changes.

Home secretary Sudhir Kumar, who was brought in by Manjhi in place of the longest serving principal secretary, home, Amir Subhani, has been removed after one of the briefest stints.

Sudhir Kumar was appointed the principal secretary (Home) on January 7 only, replaced Subhani after a nearly six-year stint on the post.

Now, Kumar has been appointed as the principal secretary in the agriculture department while Subhani has gone back to the department of home in addition to two key departments - general administration and minority welfare.

Amrit Lal Meena, principal secretary to ex-CM Manjhi since January 7, has been moved to the urban development department.

He makes way for DS Gangwar, who will now be principal secretary to CM Nitish Kumar.

Chanchal Kumar is also back as secretary to the CM, while Atish Chandra stays in the same capacity.

Arun Kumar Singh, principal secretary, science and technology, has been transferred to the road construction department with the additional charge of the parliamentary affairs department.

He will also hold the additional charge of science and technology department and also MD of State Road Development Corporation.

It was Singh’s transfer that had led to strong resentment by the road construction minister Rajiv Ranjan alias Lallan Singh.

Harjot Kaur, who was sent as Singh’s replacement, has been sent to the tourism department as principal secretary.

The reshuffle has clearly focused on department of energy, as the chief minister had committed he would not seek votes in 2015 if the power scenario did not improve.

B Rajender, secretary, urban development department and south Bihar power distribution company limited MD Palka Sahni have been relieved for central deputation.