THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major development, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) V Somasundaran, who has also been holding charges of Information Technology and Stores Purchase, is all set to move out of the state in Central deputation.
He will join the Union Government as Secretary, Civil Aviation.
Confirming the news to Express, Somasundaran said that he would be relieved sometime next week.
When asked whether he opted for the change, the Additional Chief Secretary said: “Every year the Central Government asks whether we are willing for Central deputation. This time I expressed my willingness. It happened in the normal course.”
According to the sources with the Finance Department, the Minister was looking for someone who will exclusively look after the portfolio as the state is going through one of its toughest phases of financial crisis.
“But it should be recalled that Somasundaran was able to manage the situation well; not closing the treasury even when the crisis reached a worse phase,” the sources added.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister K M Mani said that there was nothing abnormal in the development as the officer was going on an assignment in the Centre.
Somasundaran is in the list of the new secretaries announced by the Narendra Modi Government on Friday.
V Somasundaran is a 1979-batch Kerala cadre IAS official.
Earlier, he had served as additional secretary, Department of Defence Production at the Centre.