Who Will Be Odisha's Next Chief Secretary?

Bhubaneswar: A day after Odisha government cleared air on the retirement of chief secretary Asit Tripathy, speculations have begun to do rounds as to who will replace the senior IAS officer for the top administrative post.

Though many senior IAS officers are reportedly in the fray, Development Commissioner Suresh Mohapatra is reportedly the frontrunner to the top post. If Mohapatra succeeds Tripathy, who is due to superannuate on December 31, 2020, the 1986 batch IAS officer will have a tenure of 13 months.

As several IAS officers of 1985, 86 and 87 batches are currently on central deputation and Mohapatra had earlier successfully carried out responsibilities as chief administrator of Puri Srimandir and secretary to water resources, energy, forest and environment departments, he is seen as the top contender for the post.

Who Will Replace Suresh Mohapatra If He Gets Appointment As Chief Secretary Of Odisha?

The 1987 batch IAS officer and Agriculture Production Commissioner Raj Kumar Sharma is tipped to be the next Development Commissioner.

As 1987 batch Odisha cadre IAS officers Tuhinkant Pandey, Nikunja Sundaray and Rajesh Burma are on central deputation, Raj Kumar Sharma or 1988 batch IAS and the present additional health secretary Pradipta Mohapatra may replace the present Development Commissioner.

Meanwhile, former Odisha chief secretary Sahadev Sahu said that the Chief Minister decides as to who will be the chief secretary. "A person who will coordinate and won't raise objections. The CM may select the Development Commissioner (Suresh Mohapatra) for the top post," Sahu said.

"We will get a new chief secretary in the new year. A notification has already been related to the same. It's the decision of the State government as to whom will it make the chief secretary," said Bijay Patnaik, former chief secretary of Odisha.