Chouhan gets state party chief, PS of his choice

The twin developments have followed speculation over Chouhan’s perceived lack of clout with Narendra Modi taking over as the Prime Minister and Amit Shah as the BJP president.

Lok Sabha member from Khandwa Nandkumar Singh Chouhan was named the state unit chief weeks after the state leaders had recommended his name to the high command.

Nandkumar has the backing of the CM but the long delay after recommendation had triggered speculation about the choice of the high command. The CM was quick to tweet his appreciation when Nandkumar’s name was announced.

On his part, the CM named Iqbal Singh Bains, an officer of the 1985 batch as Principal Secretary in the CMO, while ordering a bureaucratic reshuffle.

Bains had served in the CMO after Chouhan became CM in 2005-end. After a long stint with Chouhan, Bains was posted in a couple of other departments before he went on central deputation as joint secretary to the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.

After getting bad press over the MPPEB scam, the CM began the exercise to get Bains back midway through his deputation. The Centre, however, took a long time to relieve Bains again giving rise to conjectures.

Bains was finally relieved last week but had not been given any assignment. Sources said the DoPT’s order relieving Bains made it clear that he would have to be posted only in the CMO because he had been recalled abruptly.

Bains replaces Manoj Shrivastava who has been moved to Commercial Taxes and Culture.

Over past few days, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government has transferred nearly 100 bureaucrats, more than 70 in one go last week, and another minor reshuffle is on the cards.

Before Shrivastava, another senior officer S K Mishra was transferred from the CMO. Mishra, a controversial officer against whom the Congress has levelled serious allegations, was appointed Commissioner, Public Relations.