In a surprise move, the Centre recalled Rajasthan Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant on November 10, posting him as Secretary in the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The move stirred up political circles in Rajasthan as Pant had been sent by the Centre to lead the state’s bureaucracy after the BJP’s victory in the 2023 Assembly elections and the subsequent appointment of first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma as the Chief Minister.
Pant’s central deputation, months before his retirement, sparked speculation as he, with his administrative skills and goodwill with the Centre, was seen as a key link between the BJP dispensation in Delhi and Jaipur.
Amid criticism of the inexperienced Sharma government on various issues and its “indecisiveness”, it was seen as “relying too heavily” on bureaucracy while still trying to find its feet. Some BJP legislators too had accused the government of relying on bureaucrats while ignoring them and party workers.
Pant will assume charge in the Union ministry in the footsteps of Amit Yadav, who is retiring on November 30. A 1991-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, Pant assumed the role of the Chief Secretary on January 1, 2024, after being repatriated from a central deputation, with his retirement set for February 2027.
In the Sharma government’s early days, there was a strong perception in political circles that Pant was “running” it, much to the embarrassment of the BJP dispensation, with the Congress accusing it of being micro-managed by the Centre.
With the Sharma government ending a 25-year tradition of Ashok Gehlot or Vasundhara Raje taking turns to lead the state, Pant was a key face in the BJP central leadership’s experiment to go with a first-time MLA.
Hence, unlike some former party CMs, the BJP’s move was seen as resulting in creating two power centres, party sources said. “This was exacerbated by the Sharma government wanting to change the perception that the CMO (Chief Minister’s Office) is calling the shots, not the Chief Secretary,” sources said. Pant was then allegedly increasingly sidelined in key state matters, with some files reportedly being routed through the CMO while bypassing him against the protocol. Several transfers were also said to have been approved without his concurrence.
Sources said the transfer of IAS officer Alok Gupta, who was considered close to Pant, from the CM’s Principal Secretary to the Industries Department this June, did not help matters either.
However, Pant had been with the central bureaucracy earlier. During Covid in 2020, he was called to Delhi and posted in the Ministry of Health. Subsequently, between December 2022 and December 2023, he served in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and then in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, before his appointment as Rajasthan Chief Secretary.
Meanwhile, the Sharma government has appointed V Srinivas as the new Chief Secretary. He had been on central deputation since December 2018.
