Nitish Kumar rejigs administrative setup in Bihar

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today reshuffled the administrative setup bringing his trusted officials back to key posts who were shunted by Jitan Ram Manjhi.

According to a notification issued by the General Administration department, 27 IAS officers have been transferred.

Amir Subhani, 1987 batch IAS, was back as Principal Secretary, Home, in place of Sudhir Kumar who has been sent to Agriculture Department as Principal Secretary.

Subhani who had been in the Home Department since Nitish's first tenure in 2005, was shunted out by Manjhi in favour of a Sudhir Kumar, Dalit officer.

D S Gangwar would be new Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister in place of Amrit Lal Meena who has been transferred to Urban Development Department, as per the notification.

1985 batch IAS officer Arun Kumar Singh would be back as Principal Secretary of Road Construction Department in place of Harjot Kaur who would be the new Secretary of Tourism Department.

Pratya Amrit, Secretary Power has been given additional charge of Public Relations Department (PRD).

Chanchal Kumar, presently posted at Rural Works Department, has been shifted to the Chief Minister's Office as Secretary.

Manjhi had shifted many of these officers who enjoyed Nitish's confidence, precipitating the tussle between the two.

In pursuance of the "Dalit agenda," Manjhi had packed IAS officers of this category at key posts.