The sudden departure of senior IAS officer Nikunja Dhal (IAS:1993:OR) from the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has ignited intense speculation in administrative and political circles. Dhal, who was serving as Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) to the Chief Minister, has moved on central deputation. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued a notification on April 18 confirming his appointment as Union Secretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
This unexpected move, coming within just nine months of the new government taking office in Odisha, has raised many eyebrows. Although the immediate reason behind Dhal’s deputation is not known, sources suggest that a faction within the BJP legislature party was reportedly dissatisfied with his style of functioning and had raised concerns with the central leadership.
Attention is now focused on who will replace Dhal in the influential CMO position. The names of two senior IAS officers — Satyabrata Sahu (IAS:1991:OR) and Arabinda Padhee (IAS:1996:OR) — are being considered as potential successors. It is noteworthy that Satyabrata Sahu was recently empanelled for Secretary/Secretary-equivalent posts in the Government of India. Many observers also believe that the Chief Minister’s Private Secretary, Manoj Sahu (IAS:2006:AGMUT), may emerge as the most powerful figure within the CMO setup during this transition.
Regardless of who ultimately takes over, the exit of two senior officers — Nikunja Dhal and Works Secretary Vir Vikram Yadav (IAS:1996:OR) — on April 18 has further strained Odisha’s already stretched administrative machinery. Notably, Yadav was also appointed as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on central deputation the same day.
As per the latest data from the State Legislative Assembly, the number of IAS officers on central deputation rises to 22 while there are two officers on inter-state deputation.
The shortage has left several senior officers currently handling multiple departments. Officers like Sanjay Singh, Deo Ranjan Singh, Vishal Dev, and Satyabrata Sahu are managing multiple portfolios, while numerous positions still remain unfilled.
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