Race hots up for post as Prabodh Saxena is to retire on September 30
S Gopal Puri
Shimla: As the clock ticks toward the end of Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena’s extended tenure on September 30, 2025, the race to occupy the state’s top bureaucratic chair is intensifying.
But amid the usual calculations of seniority, loyalty and lobbying, one high-profile tragedy — the d*eath of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) Chief Engineer Vimal Negi — has deeply altered the power equations within the Himachal Pradesh bureaucracy, especially for aspirant Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Chand Sharma.
Once seen as a front-runner for the Chief Secretary’s post, Onkar Chand Sharma now finds his prospects clouded in controversy — not because of allegations of any wrongdoing, but because of the fallout from a probe report he authored after being chosen for the task by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu himself.
Trusted to investigate, now distanced
Soon after Vimal Negi was found de*ad on March 18, 2025 (he went missing on March 10) under mysterious circumstances earlier this year, CM Sukhu entrusted Onkar Chand Sharma, then holding crucial portfolios like Forest and Revenue, with leading a high-stakes administrative probe into the matter. Sharma was considered a trusted hand, respected for his uprightness and seen as a likely contender to succeed Saxena.
However, the findings of Sharma’s inquiry report soon complicated not just the state government’s position, but also his own standing in the corridors of power.
Report that rocked the government
Submitted on April 8, 2025, the fact-finding report concluded that Vimal Negi had allegedly faced sustained humiliation and harassment from senior officials in the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL), particularly Director (Electrical) Desh Raj, who reportedly sent threatening messages and publicly humiliated Negi on multiple occasions.
The report even cited testimony indicating that Desh Raj would not allow Vimal Negi to sit during meetings, forcing him to stand with files for hours, confirming allegations made by Negi’s wife Kiran Negi.
What began as an internal inquiry soon escalated into a political and legal minefield. With mounting public pressure and the report sparking intense media scrutiny, the Himachal Pradesh High Court eventually handed the case over to the CBI on May 23, with the presiding judge notably remarking that the “mode and manner” in which the government handled the ACS’s report “raised serious questions”.
Fallout for Onkar Sharma
The CM, reportedly upset with the implications of the report, began distancing himself from Onkar Sharma. Sources suggest that Sukhu questioned not only the process of the inquiry but also the administrative judgment used in compiling it.
Soon after, Sharma was stripped of key departments like Forest and Revenue, a clear signal of declining influence. Today, he holds only the Tribal Development portfolio, a dramatic demotion for someone who was, not long ago, in the inner circle of power.
The perception now is that the probe, though factually grounded, politically backfired — and Onkar Sharma became collateral damage in the process.
Chief Secretary race: Where does Sharma stand now?
With Prabodh Saxena’s six-month extension ending this month, several names are once again in the mix for Chief Secretary:
• Sanjay Gupta (1988 batch), currently Principal Adviser to the CM and Electricity Board Chairman, is the senior-most contender. However, he is said to be more interested in the Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) Chairman’s post, a role offering a five-year fixed tenure.
• KK Pant (1993 batch) emerges as the current front-runner. As ACS handling crucial departments like Home, Revenue and Vigilance, Pant enjoys the CM’s confidence and has a clean track record.
• Anuradha Thakur, on central deputation, has re-entered the discussion following her recent meeting with the CM in Delhi, although her return to the state cadre remains uncertain.
• RD Nazim, while not a major name in lobbying circles, is expected to be on the CS panel and could emerge as a surprise consensus candidate.
As for Onkar Chand Sharma, his seniority (1994 batch) and past credentials still place him within the broader conversation, but the Vimal Negi case has cast a long shadow, making his selection politically unlikely for now.
