PM's secretary T V Somanathan returns to Tamil Nadu in key post

Chennai: Senior IAS officer T.V. Somanathan, additional secretary to the Prime Minister until recently, has returned to home cadre in Tamil Nadu and posted as principal secretary in the planning & development and special incentives department. Considering his wide experience, clean image and proximity in the PMO, he is expected to play a pivotal role in the state administration in the coming days, sources here said.

Principal secretary S. Krishnan in the housing and urban development department, another officer of impeccable integrity, has been holding additional charge of the planning & development and special incentives department until now. This department is fast assuming importance considering that several major infrastructure projects and Central schemes would pass through its files.

“Another senior officer of similar capabilities and bureaucratic standing is also likely to return from the Central deputation to take charge of a crucial portfolio in home cadre Tamil Nadu”, said a source. Principal additional secretary R. Rajagopal in the ministry of home affairs is likely to return soon for “a critically important assignment”. He may be at the Raj Bhavan, according to the source.

A government release said Otem Dai, on completion of deputation with the Ministry of Ayush, is posted as principal secretary in the adi dravidar and tribal welfare department, where P. Senthilkumar is also joining as joint secretary. It said Ashok Dongre from the sports development authority of Tamil Nadu has been transferred as principal secretary/director at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute. Also, S. Sivashanmugaraja, director of adi dravidar welfare, is moving to Tamil Nadu News Print and Papers Ltd as its MD.