Three officials in the Odisha chief minister’s office put in their papers on Thursday, signalling a change in the state bureaucracy.
Two days after Biju Janta Dal’s Loss in the legislative election. Three employees of Odisha’s Chief Minister’s office tendered their resignations on Thursday, signalling a change in the state’s administrative setup. This action was taken following the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) election defeat, which ended Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s 24-year term
Resignations were submitted by retired IAS officers R Balakrishnan and Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, who held the positions of chief advisor for Special Initiatives and chief advisor for the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), along with Manoj Mishra, the principal secretary of the IT and electronics department. The General Administration & Public Grievance Department officially accepted their resignations on June 5.
R Balakrishnan, a member of the 1984 IAS batch, was designated chief advisor (Special Initiatives) at the CMO, entrusted with overseeing various initiatives, including Special Development Councils, Tribal Museum, Craft Museum, contributions to the Heritage Cabinet, Odia University, and Odia Virtual Academy. Balakrishnan, known for his close association with the former Chief Minister’s private secretary, VK Pandian, was appointed as the chief advisor to the chief minister in August 2019.
In a subsequent change, Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, who previously served as the chief secretary and chairperson of the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission, was appointed as the chief advisor to the chief minister’s office in November of the last year, taking over Balakrishnan’s role, who then continued as the chief advisor for special initiatives. Ending the 24-year-long tenure of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Retired IAS officers R Balakrishnan and Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, who served as chief advisor, Special Initiatives and chief advisor, Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), respectively resigned from their posts while principal secretary of IT and electronics department Manoj Mishra too put in his papers.
Their resignations were accepted by the General Administration & Public Grievance Department on June 5.
Balakrishnan, a 1984-batch IAS officer, was appointed as chief advisor (Special Initiatives) in CMO in the rank of Chief Secretary with responsibilities that included looking after Special Development Councils, Tribal Museum, Craft Museum, Input to Heritage Cabinet, Odia University and Odia Virtual Academy.
Balakrishnan’s appointment was criticised for his proximity to erstwhile CM’s private secretary VK Pandian. In August 2019, he was made chief advisor to the chief minister.
In November last year, Mahapatra, former chief secretary and chairperson of Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission, was appointed the chief advisor to the chief minister’s office, replacing Balakrishnan, who continued as chief advisor of special initiatives.