UT Cadre IAS Officers Caught in Bureaucratic Tug of War as Power Lines Are Redrawn After Departure of Ashwani Kumar?

The corridors of power in Delhi are buzzing with unprecedented activity as a cascading effect of recent IAS and IPS transfers, which have the potential to reshape the capital's administrative landscape.

Race For MCD Commissioner 

What started as routine bureaucratic transfers has now snowballed into a high-stakes game of musical chairs, with the impending departure of Ashwani Kumar creating a power vacuum that has sent ripples through Delhi's administrative machinery. Sources close to the development reveal that Kumar is expected to be relieved of his duties within the week, triggering intense speculation about succession plans.

Precedent Shift In Delhi?

In a move that could rewrite Delhi's administrative playbook, the Ministry of Home Affairs is seriously considering candidates from outside the UT cadre for the coveted MCD Commissioner position—a departure from established norms that has caught many off guard.  This seems to be a shift in precedent where external appointments have been limited to Delhi Police leadership but now it appears that UT cadre IAS officers may soon face the "outsider phenomenon". This development further grains traction  as top sources said that recently name of Secretary to Delhi Chief Minister Vikas Anand's name was considered but was swiftly sent back by the top brass.

Tug of War And Reshuffle 

The race for MCD Commissioner has led to an internal tug-of-war among UT cadre IAS officers. Top sources say that Officers already posted in Delhi are jockeying for position, while Incoming transferees are making their claims, and amidst all of this, MHA is keeping its cards close while exploring "better options. While internal tensions are rising in the Delhi bureaucracy, a reshuffle is also reportedly on the horizon. 

Top sources say that ACS Public Works Department(PWD)  Naveen Chaudhary is likely to be given full charge of ACS Irrigation and incumbent Secretary to Chief Minister Vikas Anand likely to be shifted as Secretary PWD. Notably, senior IAS officer Santosh Vaidya, recently transferred from Jammu & Kashmir to Delhi, is likely to be the next Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Delhi.

As a simmering power struggle grips the corridors of the Delhi Government with possibilities of new precedents to be set, the question remains whether new precedents and surprises will turn the picture of Delhi administration or will it intensify the power struggle.