Anoop Mishra to be new Chief Secretary

Considered a confidante of Cabinet Secretary Sashank Shekhar Singh,Mishra currently holds the charge of principal secretary (finance) and Industrial Development Commissioner. He was also discharging the role of Principal Resident Commissioner ( UP) in New Delhi.

Mishra’s name came as surprise to many,as rumours were rife that Desh Deepak Verma,also an IAS officer of 1978 batch,was tipped to become the next chief secretary. Verma had emerged frontrunner for the post after he and other officers of the 1978 batch were promoted to the chief secretary scale in January. Only two officers — Alok Ranjan and K K Sinha — did not make the cut.

Soon after this,the state government had sent a communication to the Centre’s Department of Personnel and Training seeking the services of Verma who was then on deputation at the Centre. After Verma was relieved from the Central deputation,he joined UP government in the first week of February. He later joined as the member of board of revenue on February 20.

Sources in the government feel that Mishra’s elevation is clear reflection of ruling BSP’s concern for strengthening its social engineering formula of Dalit-Brahmin combination ahead of the 2012 Assembly elections. “UP DGP Karamvir Singh is also scheduled to retire in August. The government may opt for Special DGP (Law and Order) Brij Lal as state’s next DGP,” a senior government official said.