Vikram Misri to be joint secretary in PM's office

After roping in Pankaj Pachauri as the communications advisor, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's principal secretary Pulok Chatterjee has handpicked Vikram Misri, a 1989 batch IFS officer, for a joint secretary slot in the PMO.

After roping in Pankaj Pachauri as the communications advisor, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's principal secretary Pulok Chatterjee has handpicked Vikram Misri, a 1989 batch IFS officer, for a joint secretary slot in the PMO.

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Misri will replace Pankaj Saran, who is going to be India's new high commissioner to Bangladesh. Saran was scheduled to stay on till March, but he may rush to Dhaka early.

Misri, a relatively junior officer, has earlier served as a director when Pranab Mukherjee was the external affairs minister during UPA 1.

The appointment of Misri, who is returning to Delhi from the post of Consul General in Munich, is seen in the power corridor as yet another choice of Pulok Chatterjee.

Last month, PM's media advisor Harish Khare had resigned after Pankaj Pachauri was brought in as the communications advisor. Pachauri was taken in without the knowledge of Khare, in a clear show that PM's principal secretary was asserting himself in the PMO.