Delhi's New Chief Secretary Dharmendra: A New Era of Governance?

Dharmendra, the newly appointed Chief Secretary of Delhi, held his first meeting with government department heads to discuss administrative and governance issues. Previously serving as Arunachal Pradesh's chief secretary, Dharmendra's role is crucial ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, amidst ongoing tensions between the AAP government and the Lt Governor's office.

Newly appointed Delhi Chief Secretary Dharmendra held an inaugural meeting with heads of all government departments on Thursday, addressing various administrative and governance issues concerning the national capital.

Dharmendra, a 1989 batch IAS officer previously positioned as Arunachal Pradesh chief secretary, took charge on September 1. He promptly returned to Arunachal Pradesh to officially hand over his previous responsibilities.

Interacting with his staff, Dharmendra's appointment gains importance with the impending Delhi Assembly elections early next year. His predecessor, Naresh Kumar, had conflicts with the AAP government over administrative control and the role of bureaucracy under the Lt Governor.

In the absence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who is under judicial custody, Dharmendra must bridge the gap between the AAP dispensation and the LG secretariat. His responsibilities include overseeing meetings of the National Capital Civil Services Authority (NCCSA), addressing complaints from AAP ministers, and handling issues related to funding, medical supplies, and hospital staffing.

His immediate challenge is to mend the working relationship between the ruling government and the bureaucracy, amidst accusations of insubordination and partiality from both sides. As an AGMUT cadre IAS officer, Dharmendra has served in various departments within the Delhi government and as chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) before his transfer to Arunachal Pradesh in April 2022.

(With inputs from agencies.)