There are indications that Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Jawed Usmani may join as secretary in the prime minister’s office (PMO) soon. If so happens, the state will have a monopoly in the PMO as the incumbent principal secretary, Pulok Chatterji, is already from the UP cadre.

The first ever Muslim to hold the top bureaucratic position in the state, Usmani had reportedly been disgruntled with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government in the state for some time. In August last year, Usmani had proceeded on a long leave to the United States citing sickness. However, sources said he wanted to be out of the state because he was not comfortable in the present setup of the state administration, where some IAS officers close to the new chief minister had “hijacked” the office of Akhilesh Yadav.

A 1978-batch IAS officer, Usmani, who had been on central deputation since 2004, was brought back to UP when Akhilesh took over as the CM. Known for his proximity to Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, he took over as the chief secretary in March 2012. He had served as principal secretary during Yadav senior’s tenure as CM. Before his return to UP, Usmani was in New York on a sabbatical since 2010.

A senior IAS officer had told India Today, on the condition of anonymity, “Usmani has studied at IIM, Ahmedabad and London School of Economics and has developed over the years his independent style of working. He also wants to stay out of any controversy. The present situation is so vitiating due to high-handedness of some bureaucrats, junior to him, that Usmani is feeling suffocated. No wonder he wants to get out of UP to avoid getting into any controversy which may tarnish his image. He may seek fresh central deputation.” (Read full report)

There are also indications that senior UP bureaucrat Alok Ranjan, who had been given additional charge of working chief secretary in Usmani’s absence, will take over the new chief secretary of the state.

Usmani’s exist from UP also gives credence to speculation in the media that that the young chief minister is not given an independent hand in running the government while his father’s friends and family rule the roost.

Usmani's earlier stints with the PMO

Director general
(From 1.7.1996 to 23.12.1997)

Joint secretary
(24.12.1997 to 11.06.2001)

Joint secretary
(12.07.2004 to 29.10.2007)