Seniority or longer tenure? Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao weighs options for next CS

HYDERABAD: Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is exploring options to replace current chief secretary Somesh Kumar who has been ordered by the Centre to report to AP following the high court verdict quashing his continuance in Telangana.
There was no official announcement till Tuesday midnight. And among the front-runners are special chief secretaries K Rama Krishna Rao and Arvind Kumar. Though there are officers senior to even Somesh, the CM may pick an officer with maximum service left, going by his previous selection. Or he may spring a surprise and go for a senior officer such as I Rani Kumudini or Shanti Kumari.
Being an election year, the government has to find a candidate who coordinates well with the entire administration in implementing schemes and mobilise revenue. Somesh is considered a master in revenue mobilisation and speeding up implementation of schemes.
Government sources said that Rama Krishna Rao, known as KRK in bureaucratic circles, has been working as special chief secretary (finance department) since 2014 when TRS (now BRS) came into power. He plays an important role in budget preparations.
Arvind Kumar is closely associated with minister KT Rama Rao and has been handling municipal administration department. He is also the commissioner of information and public relations department, a crucial wing for government publicity.
When Somesh went abroad a few months ago, Arvind was the in-charge CS for a week. But there are five officers, all special chief secretaries, senior to these two officers. The senior-most IAS officer in Telangana, Vasudha Mishra (1987 batch), is on a central deputation and will retire next month. Similarly, Rani Kumudini (1988 batch) will retire in July.
She has been handling labour and employment for the past two years. “If the CM wants a senior officer, she may get a chance. But she has just six months left,” a CMO official said. Another officer of 1989 batch, Shanti Kumar, earlier worked as principal secretary in CMO and now works as special chief secretary of forest department.
While Shashank Goel and Sunil Sharma of 1990 batch are the dark horses. Goel is on central deputation and Sharma is looking after energy department. Another officer Ashok Kumar is currently in central services. Among the 1991 batch officers, Rajat Kumar may not get a chance due to some allegations