Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 6
With less than 20 months remaining before the next Assembly Elections, the NPF led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) is already gearing up for elections with the Cabinet all set to bring about a major reshuffle in the State’s administration, according to reliable sources. Besides a top down shakeup of the Nagaland bureaucracy, a few changes is also expected both in the Ministry as well as at the level of Parliamentary Secretaries, it was informed. It may be mentioned that the government has already appointed a new set of political heads to Chair the crucial District Planning & Development Boards (DPDB). Three Cabinet Ministers are among those appointed to head the DPDB in Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung districts.
Besides changes at the political level, major reshuffling at the top rung of the bureaucracy is also expected soon. Further, a major shake-up in the district and police administration is being finalized according to reliable sources. If the political grapevine is to be believed, all these changes at the different levels is being done with an eye on the coming elections and to ensure that everything goes according to plans in order that the current dispensation returns to power.
Regarding changes in the State Secretariat the all important post of Development Commissioner is likely to be given to ACS Lalthara on ‘the basis of seniority’. Former Kohima Deputy Commissioner Zhaleo Rio, who was recently nominated into the IAS, is also likely to get a crucial department to head, as per reliable sources. Likewise, KT Sukhalu, now Secretary, Youth Resources & Sports also figures in the reshuffle list.
There were reports that another senior IAS officer Alemtemshi Jamir, Principal Secretary (Industries) was also considered for the post of Development Commissioner. However the Cabinet decided that the post would have to be given as per seniority.
Lalthara, who is seen to be close to the political establishment, will in all probability be the new Development Commissioner.
Two cabinet ministers are overseeing the entire reshuffle modalities. The list of changes and new appointees has already been submitted to the office of the Governor of Nagaland Shyamal Datta for assent on Friday June 2, it was informed. While the assent of the Governor is expected within this week itself, it was also reported through other sources that the “politicians are facing some delay in finalizing the list” and as such more time may be taken to complete the process. Complete details of the reshuffle could not be had since none of the state functionaries’, both ministers and state officials, were willing to divulge any information in this regard. The CM’s office could not be contacted for comment.
It would be of interest to note that the Election Commission makes it mandatory that all those officials who have stayed at a place for over three years must be transferred out at the time of elections.
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