With the term of present Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, Neelam Sawhney (IAS:1984:AP), being over long back and the work extension given to her due to COVID-19 situation, also about to be completed, speculations were rife for the post of new Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh. Among the names doing the rounds as front runners, special chief secretaries, Neerabh Kumar Prasad (IAS:1987:AP) and Aditya Nath Das (IAS:1987:AP), the former i.e Neerabh had an initial edge so far. Given the fact that he was working as the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) and It has been a very long practice to appoint the next CS as the CCLA, and it was pretty evident that Neerabh was about to become the next Chief Secretary.
However, a move by Jaganmohan Reddy Govt. that has shocked and surprised many in the power corridors of Andhra Pradesh and Delhi, Aditya Nath Das has been made the new Chief Commissioner of Land Administration( CCLA), a clear indicator of his next posting as AP’s Chief Secretary and a change of fortune for the previous front runner, Neerabh Kumar Prasad, who has been asked to report general administration department for further posting. All his additional charges of Environment, Forests, Science and Technology have been given to Aditya Nath Das, in a clear indication to who is going to be the next Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh as Aditya Nath Das is emerging as the clear winner in the race.
Aditya Nath Das, a senior IAS Officer of AP Cadre has also worked under Y.S.Rajasekhar Reddy, in some key departments including the, much sought after, Heavy Irrigation Department.
