As the change of political guard often triggers a bureaucratic re-alignment, this is happening in Bihar too. With a political transition having already taken place, it is now the turn of bureaucracy to feel the process of recalibration. With several senior IAS officers opting to proceed on central deputation, all eyes are now set on key appointments in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). Thus, Bihar’s bureaucracy is virtually in a flux at this moment.
With IAS officer Anupam Kumar (IAS:2003:BH), who served as Secretary to former CM Nitish Kumar, moving to the Centre as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, the speculation around his successor in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) is flying thick and fast.
Among the frontrunners, Sanjay Kumar Singh (IAS:2007:BH) is being seen as a leading contender for the post of Secretary to the new Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary.
Singh is a seasoned bureaucrat currently serving as Secretary in the Commercial Taxes Department of the Bihar govt.
Before it, he was an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the Home Department and has served as State Project Director, Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC). He was Managing Director of the Bihar State Educational Infrastructure Development Corporation (BSEIDC) and has also served as Joint Secretary of the Building Construction Department.
Besides, like any IAS officer, he has worked as District Magistrate and Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC).
What goes in Sanjay Kumar Singh’s favour for this appointment to this crucial post is his wide familiarity with state governance and policy implementation.
The fact that this role demands close coordination between the political executive and the bureaucracy, and officers with prior experience across departments are often preferred for such assignments.
Though no official order has been issued yet, a formal announcement is expected soon.
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