Choice for Principal Secretary narrows down

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is toying with the idea of appointing either Dinesh Varma or SM Vijayanand as his Principal Secretary. Senior Congress leaders Thampanoor Ravi and M Murali are the front runners for the post of political secretary. Vasudeva Sarma, who was the political secretary of Chandy during his last stint, is also being considered for the post. If selected, this will be second stint for Dinesh Varma in Oommen Chandy’s office. He had earlier served as the Principal Secretary when Chandy was the Chief Minister in 2004.  Dinesh, a 1983 batch IAS officer,  is at present on Central deputation with the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Vijayanand, the present Principal Secretary in the  Local Self Government Department, is also being considered for the post. Sources said that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy  personally spoke to both these officials and sought their opinion on taking up the assignment.  It is learnt that the Chief Minister spoke to Vijayanand first and the chances are high for he being considered for the post. However, there is heavy lobbying against appointing him in the Chief Minister’s Office. But Oommen Chandy is yet to take a decision on this, sources said.  A number of senior leaders, many of whom were defeated in the Assembly elections, are vying for the post of Chief Minister’s political secretary. However, Thampanoor Ravi and M Murali are the front runners. Vasudeva Sharma was the political secretary when Oommen Chandy was the Chief Minister in 2004. Both Thampanoor Ravi and Murali had unsuccessfully contested this Assembly elections. Thampanoor Ravi is a prominent ‘A’ group leader and is a close confidant of A K Antony. Thampanoor Ravi had represented the Neyyattinkara Assembly constituency while M Murali had represented Mavelikkara constituency thrice.