In the massive changes three days after Nath took oath as CM, Manu Shrivastava – principal secretary new and renewable energy and MD of Urja Vikas Nigam – has been given charge of commercial tax department too. Some officers were relieved of additional charge – the eye catcher being additional Chief Secretary Manoj Srivastava, who was a day ago appointed VC of Sanchi University . He is left with animal husbandry department alone in the new set up with additional charge of PEB.

Sources in the secretarial said Shrivastava paid the price for being perceived as close to the Sangh Parivar. Also, during BJP regime, he was embroiled in a controversy involving former CM Digvijay Singh. Manoj Shrivastava was also holding the charge of department of Culture and Secretary of Bharat Bhavan Trust. Bharat Bhavan is the centre of cultural activities with huge budget. Bharat Bhavan was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1982. Manoj Shrivastava used to behave like the deputy chief of the RSS. There is no doubt that he is a brilliant officer, knowledgeable and eminent author, but he allowed himself to be totally identified with the ruling party.

Sources said that the CM is likely to appoint a retired bureaucrat of Indian Audit and Account Services as OSD and a retired bureaucrat of MP who had joined Congress in Punjab as administrative adviser. Nath could appoint a senior journalist or retired officer as media advisor.

The chief minister also decided to dismiss elder men of local bodies. The government has the power to nominate elder men in municipal corporations, municipal committees and nagar panchayats. This order will affect more than 1000 BJP members who are serving in various local bodies. The government has also decided to relieve members of advisory committees which are attached to government colleges. There are reports that the government may scrap the pension for those who were imprisoned during emergency. They are called “MISA bandi” and are getting a monthly pension. The government is also thinking in the terms of giving pension to farmers below poverty line. The monthly amount may be Rs.1,000.

The government has also decided to review appointments in the Makhanlal Chaturvedi Patrkarita Vishwavidyalaya. This university was run as an RSS institution. In the past several irregularities were committed in the university not only in the appointments but also in several other heads.

Kamal Nath is in Delhi holding consultations with the party high command about the formation of the ministry. Besides giving regional representation the chief minister may also include independents and SP and BSP MLAs in the ministry. There is every likelihood that the new ministers may take oath before Christmas. Kamal Nath has given a broad indication that first time MLAs may not get place in the ministry. (IPA Service)