The Telangana government today appointed Shekhar Prasad Singh as the new Chief Secretary of the State replacing incumbent K Pradeep Chandra, whose term ended on December 31.
The TRS-led government issued orders appointing Singh as the new Chief Secretary besides appointing him to enjoy full additional charge of the post of Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) and also the Special Chief Secretary of PR and RD departments. S P Singh will serve the State for one year, as per reports.
Talking to the media later, S P Singh said that he would try his best to transform the State into Bangaru Telangana to meet KCR's expectations. The Chief Minister wants development of all sectors. Earlier, another senior official, M G Gopal, and a few IAS officers vied for the plum post. But a 1983 IAS officer, Singh served at the Centre in various capacities and also in the State.
The Centre's refusal to extend Pradeep Chandra's term for three months sought by the State government till Saturday late night prompted Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to pick S P Singh for the top post.
Outgoing Chief Secretary Pradeep Chandra served only for a month as the Centre did not give him extension. KCR picked Singh, who is the special chief secretary of Panchayat Raj department for some time now.
KCR also appointed retired IPS officer A K Khan as the Advisor for Minority Affairs of the State government and Arvind Kumar as the Resident Commissioner of Telangana Bhavan in Delhi.