Referred with awe and deference as K K in the corridors of power, one of the most powerful bureaucrats in post congress India, K Kailashnathan is reappointed as the Chief principal Secretary to the Government of Gujarat, in a series of countless extensions, for a period of unusual 6 months time. Interestingly, the end of present extension of Kailashnathan’s tenure in Gujarat coincides with the start of new Government at centre which pundits believe, is likely to bring back Narenda Modi as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive time. Is KK heading for a bigger role at centre, post parliamentary elections 2024? Only time will tell.
Having retired on May 31, 2013 after serving the Gujarat cadre for 33 years from the post of Additional Chief Secretary in Gujarat, the impressively low key civil servant was appointed as Chief principal Secretary, a post created for him. The tenure of the quintessential bureaucrat on this post is being extended ever since, despite more than a decade has passed since. It goes to underline the importance and mattle of K Kailashnathan that he has remained a trusted officer of four Chief Ministers, Narendra Modi, Anandiben Patel, Vijay Rupani and Bhupendra Patel.
K Kailashnathan with Dr PK Mishra, principal secretary to the Prime Minister of India, both Gujarat Cadre IAS, are the two bureaucrats who Narendra Modi has steadfastly relied upon since over 20 years. The trust that Narendra Modi reposes in K Kailashnathan is evident from the apparent irreplacibility of him from CMO, Gujarat. At present, K Kailashnathan is overseeing the politically delicate and ambitious Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram redevelopment work as chairman of the Executive Council of the Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram Memorial Trust (SGAMT) also.
K Kailashnathan started his career in 1981 as Assistant Collector after selection in Civil Services. He had been collector of Surendra Nagar in 1985 and Surat in 1987.He was also Commissioner of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation from 1999 to 2001. Chairman, Steering Committee of BRTS Project was another important posting in his career.
Kuniyil Kailashnathan, holding degrees of M Sc in Chemistry from University of Madras and MA in Economics from the University of Wales, is an officer in the old world mould. Despite being at the extreme proximity to the centre of power for so long, no controversy has succeeded to taint him. Discrete and efficient, K K has skillfully eluded the media glare.
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