Former BSF head in race to aid Buta

National Advisory Council member Naresh Chandra Saxena, former Bihar chief secretary Arun Pathak and former Border Security Force director-g...

National Advisory Council member Naresh Chandra Saxena, former Bihar chief secretary Arun Pathak and former Border Security Force director-general Ajai Raj Sharma are the front-runners in the race for advisors to Bihar Governor Buta Singh.

Although the names of advisors are expected to be finalised by Monday, Government sources said Buta Singh will have three advisors handling Administration, Finance and Law and Order. Goa will have two advisors for Governor S.C. Jamir.

The appointment of a Law and Order advisor is significant as names of former Punjab DGP K.P.S. Gill and former CBI director Joginder Singh were in the reckoning. It is learnt that the Government is now focused on Ajai Raj Sharma, who was also Delhi Police Commissioner.

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Saxena, who retired as Secretary (Planning Commission) in 2002, has submitted a paper of governance to the think-tank. The paper focuses on improving delivery systems in states and discusses corruption and political transfers of bureaucrats. He has also served as Secretary (Rural Development) and Director of the LBS Academy of Administration in Mussoorie. It is learnt he will assist Buta in Finance.

The Administration advisor is expected to be Arun Pathak, who was chief secretary during Laloo Yadav’s first tenure as Bihar CM.

Somnath firm on Jharkhand debate

NEW DELHI: Though the BJP is not too keen on bringing a no-confidence motion against Speaker Somnath Chatterjee any longer, the latter is firm on calling a meeting of the presiding officers of all assemblies to debate on the implications of the SC order on Jharkhand.

The meeting would take place on March 20, even as BJP vice-president M.A. Naqvi on Saturday said, ‘‘We may not move the motion in view of the changed circumstances. We are not against him (Chatterjee) but we are against the manner in which Shibu Soren was installed as CM and Governor’s action.’’ —ENS