Arvind Kumar Sharma (AK Sharma), a 1988 batch IAS, has suddenly taken VRS in the Gujarat cadre, which is believed to be one of the trusted officers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. AK Sharma is a native of Uttar Pradesh. His sudden retirement decision has shocked everyone. Discussions have started in bureaucracy first along with the political corridors of Gujarat and now Uttar Pradesh. Now everyone is looking forward to their next step. Is he going to join the politics of Uttar Pradesh? Or is the PM going to give them some other important responsibility? Some people have claimed that AK Sharma can become deputy chief minister of UP. He will be involved in the election of 12 Legislative Council members to be held in UP from January 11.
The decision of voluntary retirement of 1988 batch IAS Arvind Kumar Sharma in Gujarat cadre has shocked everyone. He was to retire normally in July 2022, but has taken VRS abruptly. What is their next plan? A lot of people want to know the answer to this question. Sharma had been working as an associate officer of Narendra Modi for the last 20 years. He is considered to be quite reliable of PM Modi in the power establishment of Gujarat. From 1 October 2001 to 30 May 2014, AK Sharma continued working closely in Gujarat for 13 consecutive years during Modi’s Chief Ministership. When Modi came to power at the Center, for the first time he came to Delhi on central deputation and was directly posted as Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office. He was posted in PMO for 6 consecutive years from 3 June 2014 to 30 April 2020.
Role was changed in Corona Lockdown
At a time when the country was facing a serious challenge like lockdown, the PM sent him out of the PMO as the Secretary of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to improve the condition of small industries of the country in challenging conditions. At that time, in addition to Arvind Kumar Sharma, the PM had given another IAS Tarun Bajaj out of the PMO in the Finance Ministry. Even then, many people saw these two appointments with a surprising look. After this tenure of about eight months, the news of Sharma’s taking of VIS suddenly came to light on Monday. In this regard, many trusted people in the ruling establishment of the capital Delhi believe that Sharma’s next destination will be UP politics. Some believe that PM Modi will use his capabilities elsewhere, but the question of lacquer is that which place will it be?
Possibility of becoming deputy CM in Yogi cabinet
According to the information received, if Sharma moves towards UP politics, then his place will be Yogi Cabinet. He can also be made Deputy CM. Arvind Kumar Sharma, who took VRS a year and a half before his job, is a native of UP, like Nripendra Mishra, Modi’s former aide. Sharma is originally a resident of Mau district in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Mau formerly used to be a part of Azamgarh district. He is a native of Kazakhurd village in Mau district.
Azamgarh, Mau and Prayagraj have deep ties
A native of village Kaja Khurd of Ranipur block of Mohammadabad Gohna tehsil of Mau district, Sharma’s parents are Shivamurthy Rai and Shanti Devi. His elder son Arvind was born on 11 July 1962. Initial studies took place from the government primary school in the village. After this, he completed high school and intermediate studies from DAV Inter College. Post Graduation in Political Science from Allahabad University. The people of his village are also surprised by the news of VRS and want to know whether after 32 years long government job, they will now join village-district-state or do something else.
Now eyes on MLC election nomination
In UP, a member of the Legislative Council (MLC) is being elected. Polling for 12 seats will be held on January 28. The last date for filing nominations is January 18. It is believed that if Sharma’s next stop is politics, then he can make his nomination as MLC. Arvind Kumar Sharma may find a place in the much-awaited reshuffle of a possible UP cabinet in the first week of February. It will be interesting to see whether this place will be of Cabinet Minister or of Deputy CM. There is also discussion inside that a deputy CM can be called to Delhi like Sushil Modi.
