Yogi’s most-trusted officer back as in-charge of all key departments

Considered one of Adityanath’s most-trusted officers, and consequently among UP’s most powerful, Prasad accompanies the CM during his tours within the state and outside as in-charge of Protocol.

Originally from Bihar, Prasad is believed to have first come in contact with Adityanath in 1999 when, as a young IAS officer, he was posted as Chief Development Officer in Gorakhpur from 1999 to 2001. Adityanath had made a fresh entry into politics at the time as MP from Gorakhpur.

Prasad went on to serve as District Magistrate, Maharajganj, which neighbours Gorakhpur, from 2002-2003, and then as DM of Ayodhya, Bahraich, Firozabad and Agra districts.

He also held senior posts under the BSP and Samajwadi Party regimes, appointed Special Secretary, Home Department, in 2009, when Mayawati was the CM, and later Secretary, Home Department, under Akhilesh Yadav, for about six months in 2014.

In between, Prasad handled the charge of Departments like Industries, IT, Prisons, Medical and Health. In 2015, he left for Central deputation and served as Joint Secretary, Science and Technology, and then Joint Secretary, Defence, a post he held till 2019.

Two years into Adityanath’s first term as CM, Prasad came back from Central deputation and was briefly given charge as Secretary, Infrastructure and Industrial Development Department. Six months later, in September 2019, he was made Secretary to the CM, and has since then served in close proximity to Adityanath.

The retirement of Awanish Kumar Awasthi, then the most powerful UP bureaucrat, in 2022, and the transfer of Additional Chief Secretary Navneet Kumar Sehgal from the Information Department further increased Prasad’s clout within the Adityanath administration.

On September 1, 2022, Prasad got the charge of Information Department as well as other significant departments handled by Awasthi, i.e. Home, Vigilance, Visa, Jail, Energy. Sources said Prasad’s strong interpersonal skills mean he has friends across the board.

His removal as in-charge of Home and Vigilance Departments ahead of the general elections had been seen as a setback to the Adityanath government, particularly as the latter tried its best to overturn the decision. With the EC not relenting, many alleged that his removal was the fallout of a tussle between the Centre and state government.

Prasad’s return as in-charge of all the departments he held is expected to further strengthen his place in the Chief Minister’s Office.

A senior officer also working with the CMO said that Prasad’s qualities which have earned him Adityanath’s trust include that “he is alert and responds quickly to situations, which is required for the job he is in”.

Officials give the example of how he was in Ayodhya early January 23, the morning after the Ram Temple inauguration, in anticipation of the huge crowds expected and personally oversaw the operations to streamline the process after the initial confusion.