How Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary became shadow of the CM
Rama Mohana Rao's strong connection with those at the helm was indeed spectacular and took many by surprise.
Chennai: He had a meteoric rise and even rose to the stature of being called “shadow Chief Minister” as he called the shots when ailing J. Jayalalithaa was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals here. But with about nine months to retire, P. Rama Mohana Rao, state chief secretary, has been caught in the eye of storm with the I-T sleuths initiating simultaneous raids on his premises and those of his relatives on Wednesday.
Rama Mohana Rao's strong connection with those at the helm and how he was elevated to the position of Chief Secretary from being secretary to the Chief Minister was indeed spectacular and took many by surprise.
This 1985 batch-IAS officer first shot into prominence when he was made the private secretary to then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa when she assumed office in 2011. He served as her secretary till mid-2016. On June 8, 2016, in a surprise move, he was elevated as chief secretary superseding about 17 seniors and replacing K. Gnanadesikan (since suspended), a fortnight after AIADMK came to power.
Mohana Rao, an MA in economics and M. Com in cost accountancy, hails from Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh. He commenced his career as assistant collector in 1987 and over the years held several positions in various other departments. He also holds full additional charge of vigilance commissioner and commissioner for administrative reforms at present.
As head of Tamil Nadu's bureaucracy and also in terms of power and influence, Rao, it is alleged, had cleared all the contracts awarded through various departments and had oversaw the transfer of the IAS and the IPS officials.