C S Rajan likely to be next chief secretary

JAIPUR: With chief secretary Rajiv Mehrishi transferred to Delhi, it is time for chief minister Vasundhara Raje to once again search for a new chief secretary. Among the top contenders for the post, CS Rajan, additional chief secretary (infrastructure), is leading the race.
Rajan, an officer of 1978 batch, is the senior-most bureaucrat serving in the state as BB Mohanty, a batch senior to him, is under suspension.Apart from being a close confidant of chief minister Vasundhara Raje, Rajan shares a close working relationship with the outgoing chief secretary Mehrishi. On her Singapore trip, first foreign visit after becoming CM, Rajan is accompanying Raje.
“Selecting the chief secretary is the prerogative of the chief minister. The person should not only have good tuning with the chief minister but should also be efficient as he is the one who will eventually implement the government’s agenda on ground,” said Anil Kumar, a former bureaucrat of Rajasthan cadre.
Rajan is Mehrishi's batchmate and the two are friends. There is hardly any matter from policy formulation to its implementation where Rajan has not been kept in loop by Mehrishi. After assuming the charge of chief secretary in December 2013, it was Rajan who helped Mehrishi in transition, apprising him over the key issues.
Apart from that, Rajan has held the position of chief secretary for two months during the crucial time of assembly elections when incumbent CK Mathew proceeded for leave. He is due to retire in December 2015. However, with Raje in Singapore, a final decision may come only on October 19-20.