Springing a surprise and a rude shock to much of Delhi babudom, the Narendra Modi government today appointed Rajiv Mehrishi as the new home secretary. Mehrishi replaces LC Goyal as the home secretary.


In one year, two home secretaries and one foreign secretary have been shunted out. Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami was given his marching orders in February for allegedly trying to stall the arrest of Saradha scam accused and former Minister Matang Sinh.


He is the third top ranking bureaucrat to have been shunted out since the Modi government took charge. Earlier, in January, the tenures of Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and Defence Research and Development Organisation chief Avinash Chander were cut short.


Congress leaders who are familiar with transfers in babudom smell something fishy and our sources say they will reveal all in two days.


Since 10:30 am today, New Delhi is agog with speculation, that the PMO is unhappy over Goyal's handling of the Naga peace accord and the Hardik Patel episode.


Joint secretary level officials are wondering about the shape of things to come in another three years.


A Congress leader apparently got wind of the sudden change and say IAS officers believe it will create a wedge between the government and babudom over the 'use and throw' method of the PMO.


Rajasthan Congress leaders are also up in arms against the government as Rajiv Mehrishi was pet official of CM Vasundhara Scindia.


Mehrishi was finance secretary (replacing Arvind Mayaram) and takes over from incumbent home secretary L C Goyal. The PMO said Goyal has sought VRS which has been approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Mehrishi's appointment as home secretary comes on the day he is due to retire. He will hold the portfolio for two years.



Possibilities of what is next on his platter has been talked about since Mehrishi, a 1978 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Rajasthan cadre, turns 60 in August and is therefore due for retirement.