Probably it is for the first time when the least priority sector has attained much importance in power corridors. For over a month before Rural Development Secretary J K Mohapatra was to superannuate on April 30, 2016, top officials in Govt have been curious over his successor. Though it is an open secret now who would be named as new Secretary for the Department of Rural Development, it is least known what factors have contributed to this situation. Indianmandarins has learnt that an informal decision has been taken much earlier through several stages of decision making which includes assessment, recommendation, consent and then a set of mutual consents among the select lieutenants of the NaMo administration. It is believed that without a well-considered informal decision such a crucially important post would not have been kept vacant when the entire govt seemed to have started realigning its priorities and focus keeping in view the year 2019. It is almost clear to all who matters that curiosity would reach a logical end immediately after 1983 batch would be empanelled as Secretary in Govt of India by the end of June 2016. Those who understand can very well grasp the story behind the well-considered plan of succession in the DoRD. Web-link: (News dated 07 June 2016) Secret of keeping DoRD secretary post vacant? http://www.indianmandarins.com/secret-of-keeping-dord-secretary-post-vacant/