The Karnataka government on Saturday announced the appointment of TM Vijay Bhaskar as the state's new Chief Secretary replacing outgoing CS Rathna Prabha.
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had earlier written to the Centre seeking a three-month extension for Rathna Prabha until September 2018. However, after receiving no response from the Centre on the issue, the state government decided to withdraw the letter and recommend the name of TM Vijay Bhaskar for the post.
His appointment brings an end to the tenure of Rathna Prabha as Chief Secretary.
She was made Chief Secretary in the state in December 2017. She was scheduled to retire in March 2018 but she was granted an extension of three months by the previous Siddaramaiah-led government.
A second request to extend her tenure as Chief Secretary went unanswered.
This brings to an end the career of the 1981-batch IAS officer, who was only the third woman to be named Chief Secretary in the state.
Vijay, who was the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, will now take charge as Chief Secretary.
Vijay, an IAS official from the 1983 batch of the Karnataka cadre has held a number of posts including Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike(BBMP) Administrator, Chairman of the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Rural Development and Panchyati Raj.
A report by Times of India cited sources stating that Vijay is a close aide to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and also enjoys a good rapport with the Congress ministers.
It was also reported that DV Prasad from the 1984 batch, who was earlier the Principal Secretary to Kumaraswamy, when he was CM in 2006 and 2007 was also in the race to become Chief Secretary.