The Prime Minister's Office has taken Dr T V Somanathan (IAS:TN:1987) on board as new Joint Secretary (PMO). He will succeed his batch-mate B V R Subramanyam (IAS:CG:1987) who has been with PMO since March 2012. Earlier Somanathan had been serious contender for the post of Chairman, Forwards Markets Commission (FMC), the commodity markets regulator but further it could not take place. Earlier Somanathan was posted in Washington DC (World Bank) since May 2011 in the rank of JS equivalent under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Somanathan also served with DMK Chief Minister as his PS between 2007 and 2010. Washington DC a 1987 batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, has served as secretary to the chief minister under Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam rule and is currently on a World Bank assignment.