New Delhi: Awanish Awasthi, a 1987 batch IAS officer who is considered quite close to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is to retire on August 31. At present he is one of the most powerful bureaucrats in the state. He has been holding very important Home Department for a long time. Besides, he is Additional Chief Secretary of many important departments including Visa Passport, Prison Administration and Reforms, Vigilance etc.
Besides, he is the Chief Executive Officer of UPEIDA (Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority) for more than five years.
On Friday, surprising news came from Lucknow that Awanish Awasthi has been given additional charge of Additional Chief Secretary of Energy and Energy Resources Department.
Prior to this change, 1995 batch IAS M. Devraj was handling the Energy Department. The common perception about Devraj is not good. He was also posted in DoPT in the Government of India. His behaviour is not up to the mark. During his tenure in the Energy department, the power supply was continuously deteriorating in the state. That’s why by taking away the Energy Department from him, he has been cut to size.
By today's jig, has the Yogi government given a strong signal that Awanish Awasthi, after retirement on 31 August, will be given an important responsibility? Let’s wait and watch.
