Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister removed additional Cabinet Secretary and a key aide of hers, Vijay Shankar Pandey, from office, apparently over the bad press she has received in the last few days.
Mr. Pandey, who was her Principal Secretary and also Information Secretary in the government, was shifted to a low-key post of Principal Secretary (Health), while additional Information Director Ajay Kumar Upadhaya has also been removed from the post.
No reason was given for their transfer, but sources said it could be linked to the negative media reporting over the currency garland for her in the rally on Monday.
An official spokesman said Mr. Pandey, who was also the additional Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, has been divested of his post and transferred to the medical health department in the same capacity along with the charge of the project director, Uttar Pradesh Health Development Systems.
Principal Secretary, Revenue, Shailesh Krishna has been made the new Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Information Department, the spokesman said.
Special Secretary, Finance, Arvind Kumar Misra, has been made the new additional Information Director. Mr. Upadhaya goes to Finance department in Mr. Misra’s place.
Principal Secretary, Medical health, Pradeep Shukla, has been sent to Food and Civil supplies department in place of Jacob Thomas, who goes to Revenue.
Ajay Shankar Pandey, a senior PCS officer and brother of Vijay Shankar Pandey, has also been shifted from the post of Municipal Commissioner, Ghaziabad, to Mathura as CDO, the spokesman added.
