Bhubaneswar: The sudden central deputation of 1993 batch senior IAS officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal, who was serving as Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister of Odisha, has stirred speculation of a significant reshuffle within the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
Official notifications confirmed the deputation of both Nikunja Dhal and Works Secretary Vir Vikram (V.V.) Yadav on Friday, prompting questions about the administrative direction of the Mohan Charan Manjhi-led government, which is just nine months into its new term.
Mr Dhal has now been appointed as the Secretary of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs at the Centre, while Mr Yadav has been appointed as the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Environment at the Centre.
While murmurs about Dhal’s removal had been circulating, the abrupt move has sparked deeper speculation, especially amid reports of dissatisfaction within a section of the BJP legislature party, which had allegedly raised concerns with the central leadership.
Who Will Replace Dhal in the CMO?
The sudden vacancy has triggered speculation over Dhal’s successor. Among the names being discussed are senior officers Satyabrata Sahu and Arabinda Padhee. However, insiders suggest that Manoj Sahu, the Chief Minister’s Private Secretary, is likely to emerge as the new “all-in-one” officer in the CMO – a role seen as highly influential, especially on the third floor, which houses the state’s top bureaucrats.
Crisis Amid IAS Shortage
Odisha is currently facing a critical shortage of senior officers:
- IAS cadre strength: 248
- Working officers: 181
- Vacancies: 67
- IPS vacancies: 69
- IAS on central deputation: 22
- Inter-state deputation (under State govt): 2
This shortage is already forcing several senior officers, including Sanjay Singh, Deo Ranjan Singh, Vishal Dev, and Satyabrata Sahu, to juggle multiple departments. The exit of two more senior officers is expected to further strain the state’s administrative machinery.
To mitigate the shortage, the Odisha Government recently promoted 30 OAS officers to the IAS cadre, and is reportedly planning to recall officers nearing completion of their central deputation.
As reshuffling looms large, all eyes remain on who will take over key roles and how the Odisha government plans to navigate the deepening administrative crisis.
