Bhubaneswar: Senior IAS officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal earned a name for himself as the chief electoral officer (CEO) of the state overseeing a landmark election which saw a BJP government being formed in the state for the first time. Following the announcement of election results the officer was appointed as Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Mohan Majhi. He was also given charge of chairman of IDCO.
A 1993-batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, Dhal is known for honesty and integrity. He has given ample proof of this in every job he has held in his glittering career. He was appointed Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha in March 2023. He ensured free and fair elections and carried out the orders of the Election Commission of India with the same kind of integrity and courage.
The recently held elections saw a fierce battle between BJP and the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD). The latter, having remained in power for 24 years without a break, was seen as very powerful and some of its officers were indulging in acts which were objected to by the Election Commission of India. For example the commission ordered the transfer of Mission Shakti commissioner Sujata Karthikeya, wife of former IAS and chief minister’s confidant VK Pandian while campaigning was on following complaints that she was trying to influence the elections by prevailing upon women self help group members to vote for the BJD.
It is a known fact that women have constituted the core vote-bank of BJD and have been voting for the party faithfully in the elections. The BJD cultivated them consistently by ensuring constant income for them through the department of Mission Shakti which was headed by Sujata. Though Pandian by that time had taken voluntary retirement from IAS to assist Patnaik full time he was allegedly using his wife to influence the voters.
The BJP got wind of it and lodged a complaint with the EC which ordered her immediate transfer. The onus of carrying out the orders of the EC was on Dhal who was the CEO. He was aware of the power people close to Naveen Patnaik, especially people like Pandian wielded. But he had no hesitation carrying out the orders. Sujata was shifted to the finance department.
Similarly, action was taken against CMP officer DS Kuttey and senior IPS officer Ashish Kumar Singh. The orders were carried out promptly with fear or favour. Everyone has hailed Dhal for his honesty and integrity.
Dhal held several significant roles within the state government, including Additional Chief Secretary of the Energy Department and Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), prior to his appointment as Odisha CEO.
Significantly, Dhal got his new appointment with the change of guard at the top level of bureaucracy. Senior IAS officer Manoj Ahuja assumed charge as the Chief Secretary of Odisha, replacing Pradeep Kumar Jena.
There are now great expectations from Dhal both as additional chief secretary to the chief minister and as the chairman, IDCO. There is a consensus that Odisha needs more officers like him.
