The induction of a second PS to PM left many flabbergasted. This has left the bureaucratic circle to keep guessing the reason, objective and intent. For many, the appointment appears to be a magical trick leaving them to guess what exactly does this mean.

For a section of senior bureaucrats, induction of PS-2 appears to be a succession plan. They believe that Dr P K Mishra would now pass on the baton to Das which means gradually Dr Mishra’s role would shrink while Das’s role would expand.  

Contrary to this, Indianmandarins has a different take on this and finds the above-mentioned articulation as over-simplification as it overlooks the larger picture. In fact, Dr P K Mishra appears to have partially off-loaded the burden to his confidante Das.

Appointment of Shaktikanta Das as PS-2 reflects the supremacy of Dr P K Mishra. Das was always seen as one of the most favourite bureaucrats of Dr Mishra and with passage of time he became the most dependable civil servant of the New Delhi establishment.   

It may be underlined that during NaMo 1.0, Nripendra Mishra was PS to PM and Dr P K Mishra was Additional PS but Dr Mishra always played a crucial role in PMO as the chief custodian of personnel affairs. Every key appointment had to pass through his eyes and the journey seamlessly continues. 

Not only this. Almost all strategic placements even outside the Centre witnessed imprints of his craftsmanship in personnel affairs. For example, numerous Union secretaries sent to UTs and BJP-ruled states were believed to have been scrutinised by Dr PKM Mishra including B V R Subrahmanyam (IAS: 1988: CG), D S Mishra (IAS: 1984: UP), S S Sandhu (IAS: 1988: CG), Sudhansh Pant (IAS: 1991: RJ), Amrit Lal Meena (IAS: 1989: BH), Anurag Jain (IAS: 1989: MP) and so on. In a nut shell, Dr P K Mishra will continue to hold sway as chief custodian of personnel affairs.

With Shaktikanta Das as PS-2 the PMO simply equips and upgrades itself. Das who was Fertilizers Secretary before becoming Revenue Secretary as well as Finance Secretary designate. At every successive position, he proved himself as a clear-headed, non-controversial and widely acceptable administrator. He further cemented his position as the most dependable bureaucrat for the New Delhi establishment. It is understood that Das is expected to do what Nripendra Mishra did in the PMO; nurturing the big ticket macro picture.

As a Gujarati-speaking top most official, Dr P K Mishra has been a comfort for PM and HM while as an Odia and Tamil-speaking PS-2 Shaktikanta Das will be an advantage for others on top seats of power including Cabinet Secretary Dr TV Somanathan.

A section of insiders apprehended that the induction of PS-2 might marginalise the role and utility of advisers in PMO but this too appears unlikely. PS-1 and PS-2 are placed co-terminus with the PM while the two advisers have been navigating their course on successive extensions. It is believed that the PMO off late has become increasingly dependent on and accustomed to the present arrangement of advisers that not only provide cushion but also share burden leaving little room for the position of Secretary, PMO. Yes, the new scenario may reset and realign their role.

A section of top bureaucrats says that with a former RBI governor as PS-2 coupled with a former expenditure-cum-finance secretary as Union Cabinet Secretary at the helm, the Ministry of Finance may have a reduced say in some cases while departments under the ministry may look at the PMO a more than ever before.

Two former finance secretaries, Shaktikanta Das and Dr Somanathan, belong to the same Cadre (TN) thus share a common past and a linguistic comfort.  Both will now work in tandem. 

Dr Somanathan, an intellectually independent-mind and professionally upright bureaucrat, will offer his service to the PMO majorly through PS-2. The two proven authorities in finance and economics would bolster the confidence of Union secretaries as well the corporate world across sectors including finance, energy, infrastructure and social sectors.

Under Modi-Shah regime, the administrative framework and goals are more important than means or individuals. The latest development and the emerging framework should rather be termed as PMO’s consolidation plan.