For years, forming a government in Odisha seemed like a distant dream for the BJP. However, their persistent efforts have finally paid off, and now the BJP government under the Chief Ministership Mohan Charan Majhi is at the helm in Odisha. The primary challenge ahead for both the BJP-led central and state governments is to govern in accordance with the wishes of the people who voted for them. Their immediate priority is to assemble a competent team of officers and place them in key positions to create an effective administrative structure that aligns with public expectations and delivers both central and state government programs efficiently.
The state government is actively working to bring back officers who are currently on central deputation to their parent cadre in Odisha. The repatriation of Union Secretary for Agriculture, Manoj Ahuja (IAS:1990:OR) is part of this effort. Ahuja’s return is also being linked to his potential appointment as Chief Secretary, with the incumbent Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena’s (IAS:1989:OR) extended tenure set to expire on June 30, 2024. Other potential candidates for the Chief Secretary position include Satyabrata Sahu (IAS:1991:OR), Anu Garg (IAS:1991:OR), and Nikunja Bihari Das (IAS:1993:OR).
It is noteworthy that the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has been operating with significant vacancies for the past five years, including the crucial positions of Principal Secretary and Private Secretary to the Chief Minister.
Following the change of government, at least seven retired officials who previously held posts in the CMO have resigned. Additionally, several hand-picked secretaries from other departments, who were serving as officers on special duty in the CMO, have been relieved of their positions. Therefore, the state government needs trusted officers to ensure effective governance.
