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Having already transferred nearly 70 per cent of the IAS and IPS officers in Uttar Pradesh over the past three weeks since taking over as chief minister, Mayawati on Thursday night finally homed in on the state's chief secretary.
Around 2330 hours on Thursday night, Devendra Singh Bagga, a 1967 batch IAS officer, was told to take over the prized office from Ajay Prakash Verma, an officer of the 1966 batch.
The move followed Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Kanshi Ram's arrival in Lucknow on Thursday evening.
Bagga, who hails from Punjab, reportedly enjoys the confidence of Kanshi Ram, who was said to be pushing his name for the top bureaucratic position ever since Mayawati assumed the office of chief minister.
Bagga had been away from Uttar Pradesh for nearly a decade and was posted with the Election Commission of India for nearly seven years.
On his return to the state last year, he had been entrusted with the innocuous job of chairman of the UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC).
Though speculation was rife about the possible exit of Verma, who enjoys the reputation of being an upright officer, none had expected Mayawati to shunt him out within hours of the conclusion of the assembly session, called to enable her to prove her majority in the House.
It was said that Verma's exit was accelerated largely on account of his mild objections to the frequent shifting of bureaucrats and police officers, some of whom had seen two transfers in a day or three shiftings over a week.
Verma is yet to be given his new posting.
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