Patna: Several senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers from the Bihar cadre have been deputed to central government postings, in a development widely seen as politically significant ahead of a potential change in the state’s leadership.
Patna is witnessing heightened political activity as April 14–15 emerge as crucial dates in the state’s political calendar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is reported to be preparing to tender his resignation, with political negotiations underway over the formation of a new government. While there has been no official confirmation of a leadership transition, the BJP is expected by its allies to take the chief minister’s post for the first time in the state’s current arrangement. The swearing-in of the new chief minister and council of ministers is scheduled for April 15, according to officials involved in the planning.
Alongside the political churn, a parallel reshuffle within the bureaucracy has drawn attention. The central government has cleared the deputation of several senior IAS and IPS officers from Bihar, issuing the first list of postings.
Among those named is Anupam Kumar, a 2003-batch IAS officer who currently serves in the Bihar cadre and is widely regarded as close to the chief minister. He has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Power.
In the same list, Vandana Preyashi, also a 2003-batch IAS officer and currently Secretary in the Social Welfare Department, has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Department of Fertilizers.
IPS officer Rakesh Rathi has been posted as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Pratima S. Verma, a 2002-batch IAS officer serving as Secretary in the Department of Science, Technology and Technical Education, has been appointed Commissioner in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Verma and Anupam Kumar, who are married, have both been moved to central deputation in the same round of postings.
Another officer, Shravanan M, who had been awaiting a posting, has been appointed Joint Secretary in the Department of Space.
Officials said more deputation orders are expected in subsequent lists.
The movement of senior bureaucrats to central postings ahead of a possible change in government has become a subject of discussion in administrative and political circles in Patna, with several officers already cleared for relieving from state duties.
