Unexpectedly, Chief Minister Hemant Soren appointed veteran IAS officer L. Khiangte, who was part of the 1988 batch, as the state’s new chief secretary, drastically changing the state’s administrative structure. The current 1987-batch officer, Shukhdeo Singh, who had been in charge since his appointment in March 2020, has been replaced in this calculated move.
Dynamic in the bureaucracy, Khiangte was not only the director general of the Administrative Training Institute (ATI), but he also carried the extra duties of the chief secretary in the department of the forest, environment, and climate change. He demonstrated his adaptability and dedication to public service in these two roles.
Since Singh, who was once thought to be close to the chief minister, was reassigned as the director general of ATI, the abrupt change in leadership has caused tremors in the halls of power. Singh, who was appointed in the first few months of Soren’s presidency, was supposed to serve as chief secretary until March 2024, but he is currently employed in a different capacity. It’s interesting to note that Khiangte will leave office on October 31, 2024. According to sources, he is probably going to stay in his new position until then, in accordance with the current assembly’s schedule. A further layer of intrigue surrounds the possible introduction of a model code of conduct for the October or November 2024 Jharkhand assembly elections, which makes it unlikely that there will be another change at the bureaucratic summit until October.
Many are wondering why there was such a sudden shift in the bureaucratic hierarchy, as this unexpected turn highlights how dynamic politics and administrative reorganization are. The developing story looks to be an intriguing part in the political history of the state, given Khiangte’s extensive experience and Singh’s notable background in the chief minister’s inner circle. Keep checking back for more information on this fascinating development!
