Modi’s ‘eyes and ears’ in Gujarat, now Puducherry Lt Governor: Who is K Kailashnathan?

After he quit the bureaucracy in late June, speculation was rife that Kailashnathan was set to be given a bigger role at the Centre, either as a Governor or Lieutenant Governor or in the Prime Minister’s Office, with a senior government official saying, “The kind of experience KK possesses and the level of confidence Modi has in him, it is likely that he will be given some responsibility at the national level.” That came true on Saturday when the Rashtrapati Bhavan announced a list of new governors and new appointments for existing ones.

Originally from Kerala and a chemistry post-graduate from Madras University, Kailashnathan is a Gujarat cadre officer of the 1979 batch. His first posting as Collector was in Surendranagar district, followed by Surat. Later, he served in various departments and corporations of Gujarat, such as Rural Development, Industries, Gujarat Maritime Board, Narmada Board, and Urban Development. The BOOT (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer) policy of the Gujarat Maritime Board was framed during his tenure, said an IAS officer. In 1994-’95, Kailashnathan was the Chief Electoral Officer of Gujarat.

During his stint as the Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner between 1999 and 2001, Kailashnathan is credited with having developed the Raska Project for Emergency Water Supply to the city in record time – including the laying of a 43-km-long pipeline – to solve a drinking water crisis.

A senior IAS officer said: “The completion of the Raska Project in record time was only due to the vision of Kailashnathan, who could see the impending crisis and came out with the plan.”

It was at the end of 2001 that Modi took over as the CM of Gujarat and Kailashnathan soon caught his eye. By 2006, Kailashnathan was appointed to the CMO. He would not leave for 18 years.

In 2013, when he superannuated as Additional Chief Secretary in the CMO, the Modi government in the state created the post of Chief Principal Secretary to the CM for Kailashnathan. Over the next 11 years, he kept getting extensions at regular intervals and was given charge of Modi’s pet projects such as GIFT City, Narmada and then the Gandhi Ashram redevelopment.

Since Modi moved on as PM, three CMs followed him in the post in Gujarat: Anandiben Patel, Vijay Rupani and Bhupendra Patel. But, there was no diminishing of Kailashnathan’s stature. A senior government functionary said: “Kailashnathan was seen as more powerful than the Chief Secretary, and at times even the CMs (who replaced Modi). He called the shots in transfers and postings of IAS and IPS officers. His views would be solicited even on matters that did not fall within his purview.”

A senior bureaucrat said: “The important thing about KK was that he moulded himself as per the situation, changing his approach as per the incumbent Chief Secretary. If the Chief Secretary was not very proactive, he would start taking the initiative and pushing things. But, if the Chief Secretary was proactive, KK would take a back seat.”

At the time of his retirement, a senior BJP leader admitted that the clout enjoyed by Kailashnathan meant that he often trod on powerful shoes. “Many BJP leaders did not like it. Now, if he is not replaced by anyone, I would see it as an indication that the CM will have a freer hand in the administration,” said the BJP functionary.

“For better or worse, KK ruled the bureaucracy. So, definitely, a pattern of administration had been set in place… and naturally, there were biases. His favourite officers remained in coveted positions, and those not in his good books continued to be sidelined. The sidelined officers did not get a chance to prove their ability to perform, or not,” an officer said.

After retiring from the CMO, Kailashnathan continued to be Chairman of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited and a member of the Executive Council implementing the Gandhi Ashram redevelopment project.