Punjab babus guess where new govt will post them

For the post of principal secretary to the CM,three names have been doing the rounds

For weeks ahead of the results,the buzz among bureaucrats in Chandigarh has been about who will get what posting if the Congress stays true to opinion poll and then exit poll predictions. And the feeling has been that some senior officers on central deputation will return if the Congress wins,and that the present set-up will continue if the ruling SAD-BJP alliance retains power.

Babus are certain,for example,that a Congress government would mean that Sudhir Mittal of the 1978 batch,currently on central deputation as additional secretary for corporate affairs,will come back and be chief secretary.

For the post of principal secretary to the CM,three names have been doing the rounds. One is of Suresh Kumar (1983 batch),currently financial commissioner (cooperation and technical education and industrial training). He was PS to the CM during Capt Amarinder Singhs tenure. The other names are of D P Reddy (1985) and N S Kalsi (1984),both on central deputation.

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For the post of principal secretary (finance),one name being discussed is that of Vinni Mahajan (1987 batch),who is now on central deputation in the PMO. There are some,however,who feel that K B S Sidhu (1984 batch) might retain that post.

In the police circles,the main discussion is about who becomes DGP if the Congress comes to power. The favourites among forecasters are Rajan Gupta (1978 batch),Sanjiv Gupta,Rajinder Singh (both 1982) and S K Sharma (1983). Only Gupta has the rank of DG,a requisite.

Rajinder Singh is tipped to be ADGP-cum-chief director,Vigilance Bureau,and Dinkar Gupta (1987) to shift from his Delhi posting to ADGP (Intelligence).

Should the SAD-BJP government stay,chief secretary S C Agrawal is expected to continue till he retires in a few months. The SAD-BJP is not expected to shift principal secretary to the chief minister S K Sandhu either.

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A few days ago,B I S Chahal,who used to be media adviser to chief minister Amarinder Singh,threw a party in Patiala for two dozen officers. They met Amarinder and many said they had been sidelined for five years.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the designation gives law enforcement “enhanced powers to combat a group that has instilled fear through violence and intimidation”.

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