Solomon Arokiaraj, key bureaucrat in Andhra CM Jagan’s CMO, goes on central deputation

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BySouth First Desk

Published Nov 29, 2022 | 12:27 PMUpdatedApr 07, 2023 | 10:25 PM

Solomon Arokiaraj-2

The appointment of 2000 cadre IAS officer Solomon Arokiaraj — secretary to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy — as joint secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs at the Centre, has come as a surprise to many.

Arokiraj had applied for central deputation and was empaneled as joint secretary and allotted the key department. He will be there for five years, and there could be extensions as well.

Arokiaraj, who joined the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) as soon as YSRCP came to power, was handpicked by Jagan to be part of his team for his non-nonsense efficiency — an officer who maintained a low profile and let his work do the talking.

In the CMO, he was looking after the departments of food and civil supplies, education, panchayat raj, mines and geology, and IT. Also, importantly, all welfare departments.

For Jagan, the proper implementation of his many welfare schemes is the key to retaining power. And the majority of these schemes were implemented through the welfare departments.

CMO staff told South First that Arokiaraj was part of a crucial team that helped Jagan with the right inputs, information and insights to counter the narrative by the Opposition on critical subjects during Assembly sessions.

It was during the winter session of the Assembly in 2020, some 18 months after the YSRCP came to power, that the ruling party finally gained the upper hand over the Opposition TDP.

Armed with relevant information, data, statistics — not to speak of better floor management — YSRCP ensured various motions, resolutions, passage of Bills, short discussions et al were held without any hitch or confusion, and with perfect coordination.

All this was possible because of the team of senior bureaucrats in the CMO, including Arokiaraj and K Dhananjay Reddy, and personal senior staff such as Duvvuri Krishna and Avinash Iragavarupu.

Surely, Arokiaraj will be missed.