Somesh Kumar to join BRS?

[Anta Assamey]

Nearly two months after putting in his papers seeking voluntary retirement from service, former Telangana chief secretary Somesh Kumar is all set to enter politics by joining the Bharat Rashtra Samithi.

Somesh appeared on the stage along with BRS president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at the public meeting being held at Aurangabad in Maharashtra on Monday, raising many an eyebrow.

Till the other day, there was talk that KCR might use his services as an advisor to the government on some crucial subjects. However, with Somesh Kumar appearing on a political platform, it has led to speculation that he might officially join the BRS to enter active politics.

In February this year, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy approved the request of Somesh Kumar for voluntary retirement from service. Since then, he has been lying low.

Somesh Kumar, an IAS officer of the 1989 batch, submitted his request soon after reporting for duty on January 12, 2023, to AP Chief Secretary K S Jawahar Reddy, following a high court order canceling the allotment of Telangana cadre to him.

He was asked to be relieved forthwith and directed to report to the AP Government within two days. A month after reporting to the AP government, Somesh Kumar applied for VRS and was granted the same immediately.

Somesh Kumar, who had a long and chequered career, had many achievements to his credit, but he also drew flak on some issues. The Dharani portal meant to streamline land records worked both ways for him.

Considering his ability and knack to garner revenues to the state exchequer, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao might endow Somesh Kumar with an advisory position akin to the first Chief Secretary of the State Rajiv Sharma, who is a Chief Advisor, earlier reports said.