Speculation around Keshav Chandra’s (IAS:1995:AGMUT) appointment as New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Chairperson has ended with an official order from the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday. Chandra succeeds former Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar (IAS:1987:AGMUT), whose NDMC tenure ended on August 18, 2024.
Currently, Chandra has been serving as Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands since July 2022, following his predecessor Jitendra Narain (IAS:1990:AGMUT). Speculation about Chandra’s new role as NDMC chairperson began when then-chairman Amit Yadav (IAS:1991:AGMUT) was transferred to the position of Secretary in the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment in late May 2024. Known as a diligent and upright officer, Chandra was seen as a likely successor.
However, Chandra’s appointment was not made immediately. Instead, on June 19, Delhi CS Naresh Kumar was assigned additional charge of the NDMC Chairperson role until August 18. Since then, the post had been vacant, with MCD Commissioner Ashwini Kumar (IAS:1992:AGMUT) serving as link officer. Despite the delay, Chandra remained a leading candidate in discussions within power circles.
Keshav Chandra is a trusted figure within the current administration. Before his role in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, he held a prominent position as Director of the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).
