LUCKNOW: A day after dismissing two ministers, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav removed Deepak Singhal as the chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh. Singhal did not complete even three months in office.
In Singhal’s place, Yadav appointed Rahul Bhatnagar. He was principal secretary (finance) before the new appointment. He is a 1983-batch IAS officer. Singhal belongs to the 1982 batch. Singhal had been appointed chief secretary on July 6, 2016 when the post had fallen vacant following the end of Alok Ranjan’s extended term. Ranjan’s term ended on June 30, 2016.
Considered an upright officer in the state’s bureaucratic circles, Bhatnagar is known for steering the state government clear of any controversy on the financial front despite pressure. He is considered to be in the good books of both the chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Singhal’s close proximity to irrigation minister Shivpal Singh Yadav had probably worked in his favour.