By Pradeep Kapoor
LUCKNOW: The denial of extension to Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh IAS on July 31 exposed that all was not good between Yogi government in state and Modi government despite UP being double engine governments of BJP.
It was indeed a big jolt to UP CM Yogi Adityanath that his most trusted bureaucrat UP Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh was denied the extension. Yogi government kept waiting for the letter of approval of extension for powerful chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh holding the charge various important departments in the state.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh were confident that central government would certainly send the letter of extension. That is why the bureaucracy kept waiting till 5 pm on July 31.
It would be worth mentioning here that state government had sent the letter to central government on July 3 listing the achievements of Manoj Kumar Singh as Chief Secretary. The letter also listed future programs of making the economy one trillion and ground breaking ceremony for investments in UP for which extension of Manoj Kumar Singh was required. In the month of May too UP CM Yogi Adityanath had received similar jolt when he could not get extension for his trusted police officer Prashant Kumar for the post of Director-General of Police.
It may be noted during last eight years of tenure as UP CM Yogi Adityanath, central government sent DS Mishra as Chief Secretary. He was also given extensions because he was considered to be close to power centre in New Delhi. The denial of extension to UP Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh now and earlier Prashant Kumar for the post of DG P has unnerved CM Yogi Adityanath about the future politics in the state.
It would be worth mentioning here the appointment of UP BJP president is also pending. The name of new BJP president in the state is likely to be announced very soon. Having failed to receive the letter of extension of Manoj Kumar Singh Yogi Adityanath announced the name of senior most IAS officer in state SP Goel who was Secretary to CM for past eight years.
Besides being Secretary to UP CM the experience of SP Goel working in PMO and other key ministries at the centre also favoured him to take over as UP Chief Secretary. It is being debated in political circles that the denial extension to powerful bureaucrats close to UP CM could be exploited by the detractors of Adityanath. (IPA Service)
