Chief secy, DGP set to retire in December, govt mulling options

“It’s an important administrative decision. Now that December is ending, all eyes are on who will be taking charge as the new chief secretary and DGP of the state. There are a few names doing rounds but you never know it could be a surprise too,” said a senior administrative official.

Dwivedi, who assumed charge as the chief secretary on June 1, 2021, was slated to retire in June 2023. In June this year, the central government gave the state government the green light to extend Dwivedi’s tenure by six months.

In the past, Dwivedi has worked in key departments including home and finance. Before being named chief secretary, he was posted as an additional chief secretary in the state home department. He has also worked as a commercial tax commissioner and as in charge of the state excise department in the past.

Sources said additional chief secretary (home) Bhagwati Prasad Gopalika is among the frontrunners for the post. “Gopalika could be the one to succeed Dwivedi but nothing can be said till an official announcement is made,” said a senior official from the state personnel and administrative reforms department. Gopalika is a 1989-batch IAS officer.

Sources said that there is also a chance that the Mamata Banerjee government may rope in Dwivedi for a special role after his retirement.

In West Bengal DGP Manoj Malviya’s case, sources said IPS officer and former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar is among the top contenders for the post. He is currently serving as the secretary of the Information and Technology Department. “He has held key posts in West Bengal Police and prefers to stay away from the limelight,” said a source.

In 2019, the Central Bureau of Investigation  (CBI) questioned him in alleged connection with the Saradha ponzi scheme case. Alleging a coup against her government, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had staged a dharna against the CBI action.

Another name on the list of contenders is IPS officer Dr Rajesh Kumar who is from the 1990 batch of the West Bengal cadre. Rajesh Kumar has also served as the Additional DGP of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the past. In 2017, he was transferred as the ADG in the West Bengal Pollution Control Board before being appointed the 41st Commissioner of Kolkata Police by the Election Commission of India in April 2019.

On May 26,  2019, Anuj Sharma was reinstated as the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, replacing Rajesh. Soon after, Rajesh was appointed as the Member-Secretary of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board

“Rajeev Kumar and Dr Rajesh Kumar are believed to be among the top contenders for the post, however, it is too immature to confirm any name before an official announcement,” a source told The Indian Express.

A section of officials also believe that the state may consider extending Malviya’s term. “The state government has the option to seek his extension for an additional six months, as it did in the Chief Secretary’s case earlier,” said a source. A 1986 batch officer, Malviya is related to freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malviya.