Whispers of 3-mth extension for Singh at GSPC

Vol 22, PW 15 (16 May 19) People & Policy

Reluctant he might be but JN Singh is likely to be asked to stay on another three months as speculation mounts about his replacement as GSPC chairman, a position he has held since August 2016.

Singh is believed to be lukewarm about an extension beyond his retirement on May 31. "But (Gujarat chief minister) Vijay Rupani may offer him an extension rather than take a decision (on his replacement) in a hurry," says a Gandhinagar source, in a reference to general election results expected on May 23 and the formation of a new government.

"Rupani would rather have continuity than bring in somebody new at this time." If Singh doesn't get an extension the two frontrunners to replace him are Arvind Agarwal, additional chief secretary in the finance department and Anil Mukim, secretary at the mines ministry in Delhi.

Of the two, Mukim is believed to have a better chance because Agarwal, the most senior IAS officer in Gujarat after Singh, reportedly suffers from poor health. Agarwal is also under a cloud: two years ago he was the subject of a state inquiry into alleged "irregularities in the allotment of land" in industrial estates promoted by Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation.

Also in the race is Punamchand Parmar, additional chief secretary health and family welfare, who if selected, would become the first GSPC chairman to have a Dalit background (belonging to a caste or ethnic group that traditionally faces discrimination).

Another contender is Guruprasad Mohapatra who heads the Airports Authority of India. “Mohapatra's priorities are clear,” says a Gandhinagar source. “He's close to Modi and would rather stay in Delhi in an important ministry than return to Gujarat.” Well read and friendly, Mohapatra was offered a role in the CM's office when commissioner of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation from July 2011 to October 2014. “But he preferred Delhi,” we hear. If Singh stays on he'll have done better than predecessors Ganga Ram Aloria and DJ Pandian who were refused extensions. If he goes, Singh will be remembered as a ‘problem solver.’ A source at a company working with GSPC recalls a telling incident. “We were facing a big problem and the then GSPC boss (Atanu Chakraborty) could not find a solution," we hear. "Singh granted us an evening appointment and listened for just two minutes before signaling the meeting was over. The next day we got a call from GSPC saying the problem was resolved.”

Whispers of 3-mth extension for Singh at GSPC

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