Kerala Chief Secretary VP Joy (IAS:1987:KL) is set to retire from the service in June. Speculations have started doing the rounds in the power corridors of Kerala and Delhi about who will replace the top bureaucrat in the state. As per the buzz in the power corridors, Dr. V Venu (IAS:1990:KL), Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department is likely to replace the incumbent Chief Secretary.
Unless the state government springs some surprises, it is most likely that officers posted in the state, and not on central deputation, will replace V Joy. This is because many senior IAS officers, who hold important assignments with the central government, are reportedly reluctant to return to their parent cadre.
Despite their reluctance, their names are being speculated about the top bureaucratic post in the state. Some of these officers are Gyanesh Kumar (IAS:1988:KL), Secretary, Parliamentary Affairs Department; Manoj Joshi (IAS:1989:KL), Secretary, Urban Affairs Department; Devendra Kumar Singh (IAS:1989:KL), Secretary, Ministry of Co-operation; Alkesh Kumar Sharma (IAS:1990:KL), Cabinet Secretariat (Coordination), and Kamala Vardhana Rao (IAS:1990:KL), CMD, India Tourism.
However, there is a strong chance that IAS officers posted in the cadre may replace the incumbent Chief Secretary. Their names are Rajesh Kumar Singh (IAS:1989:KL), Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department; Asha Thomas (IAS:1988:KL), Additional Chief Secretary of the Personnel and Administrative Department; Dr. V Venu (IAS:1990:KL), Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, and Ms. Sarada Muraleedharan (IAS:1990:KL), Additional Chief Secretary, Local Self Government (Urban & Rural) Department.
