Akhilesh drops Chief Secy Usmani, appoints own man

Usmani, also a 1978-batch officer, has been kept in waiting.

Ranjan also looked after the responsibilities of Infrastructure & Industrial Development Commissioner and Chairman of UPSIDC, UP Finance Corporation and Udyog Bandhu.

The entire Yadav clan, including Mulayam, Ramgopal Yadav, Shivpal Yadav and Akhilesh, had met in Lucknow yesterday where the change of guard was decided.

The reshuffle is in line with a slew of changes that Akhilesh has effected after the party’s poor show in the Lok Sabha polls.

Earlier, Ranjan has officiated as Chief Secretary in Usmani’s absence.

Sources in the SP claimed there wasn’t substantive negative feedback regarding Usmani even as he was opposed by an IAS lobby.

What went against him is that Akhilesh was reportedly never comfortable with him. On the other hand, the CM shares a good rapport with Ranjan, having appreciated his role at public functions.

Ranjan, 58, is a graduate of St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and holds an MBA degree from IIM, Ahmedabad. He has served as DM in Ghazipur, Banda, Ghaziabad, Agra and Allahabad. Ranjan also has served as secretary to Rajnath Singh when he was CM during the BJP regime.

Reshuffle in the CM’s Secretariat is also on Akhilesh’s agenda.

Sources said IAS officers Rajeev Agrawal, Anil Garg and Alok Kumar are likely to be inducted in the CM’s Secretariat. Agrawal is managing the Lucknow Metro project while Alok Kumar had earlier served in CM’s Secretariat. Garg is at present posted as Excise Commissioner. Anita Singh, principal secretary to CM, may also have to move out. She is said to be close to Mulayam.