The Vishnu Deo Sai-led Chhattisgarh government has executed a massive administrative overhaul, transferring 22 IAS officers and one IFS officer, including changes in six district collectors.
- 22 IAS and 1 IFS officers reassigned in a major shake-up.
- Six district collectors replaced across key districts.
- Saumil Ranjan Chaubey takes over as Tourism Board MD.
- Strategic changes in politically sensitive districts like Kanker and Kawardha.
Raipur: In a significant move to streamline the state's administrative machinery, the Vishnu Deo Sai government in Chhattisgarh carried out a massive reshuffle on Tuesday evening. The restructuring affects 22 IAS officers and one IFS officer, signaling a major shift in the state's governance strategy.
Key Leadership Changes
A notable change occurred within the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board. IFS officer Vivek Acharya has been relieved of his duties as Managing Director and sent back to his parent department, the Forest and Climate Change Department. In his place, IAS officer Saumil Ranjan Chaubey has been handed the additional responsibility of Managing Director of the Tourism Board.
District Collector Reassignments
The government has also overhauled the leadership in six key districts. The new appointments are as follows:
| District | New Collector | Previous Posting/Role |
|---|---|---|
| Kanker | Kundan Kumar | Former Collector of Mungeli |
| Kawardha | Tulika Prajapati | Former Collector of Mohla-Manpur |
| Mungeli | Amrit Vikas Topno | Former Collector of Sakti |
| Gariaband | Ranveer Sharma | New Appointment |
| Sakti | Jayashree Jain | Transferred from Mantralaya |
| Mohla-Manpur | Tanuja Salam | Former Director of Sports Dept |
Additionally, Nilesh Kshirsagar, who served as Kanker Collector, has been appointed Director of Urban Administration and Development, while Gopal Verma has been moved to the Mantralaya as Joint Secretary.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that this reshuffle is deeply strategic rather than merely routine. The districts being reshuffled—Kanker, Kawardha, and Mungeli—hold immense political weight. Kawardha is closely associated with Deputy CM Vijay Sharma and Speaker Dr. Raman Singh, while Mungeli is the home district of Union Minister Tokhan Sahu and Deputy CM Arun Sao. By changing the collectors in these areas, the Sai government is likely attempting to consolidate its influence and address local administrative challenges.
Large-scale administrative shifts often precede major policy implementation or are reactions to localized governance friction.
The move in Kawardha is particularly noteworthy, following reports of internal friction between the district's top administrative and police officials.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which officer has been appointed as the new MD of the Tourism Board?
IAS Saumil Ranjan Chaubey has been appointed as the MD of the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board.
2. How many IAS officers were affected by this reshuffle?
A total of 22 IAS officers were transferred in this administrative overhaul.
