Gandhinagar: K Kailashnathan, Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, finally left the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). He had been serving in various posts within this office since 2006. Kailashnathan’s services were extended in the Chief Minister’s Office time and again, even after his retirement in 2013. A special post of Chief Principal Secretary was also created for him in the Chief Minister’s Office. However, after multiple extensions through the tenure of four Chief Ministers—Narendra Modi, Anandiben Patel, Vijay Rupani, and Bhupendra Patel—he today left the Chief Minister’s Office without any further extension. As per the Gujarat Chief Minister’s tweet, Kailashnathan’s exit is voluntary. All eyes in secretariate were on updates regarding this for last week.

Kailashnathan’s current extended term is set to end on June 30th, but since that falls on a Sunday, today was the last day of his services in the CMO. After Kailashnathan’s exit, Dr. Hasmukh Adhia and S.S. Rathod (both retired IAS officers) will be the top officers in the CMO, serving as Chief Principal Secretary and Principal Advisor, respectively.

મારા કાર્યાલયમાં મુખ્ય અગ્ર સચિવ તરીકે સેવાઓ આપીને શ્રી કે. કૈલાસનાથનજી તા. ૩૦ મી જૂન ૨૦૨૪થી સ્વેચ્છાએ કાર્યનિવૃત્ત થઈ રહ્યા છે.

માનનીય વડાપ્રધાન શ્રી નરેન્દ્રભાઈ મોદીના ગુજરાતના મુખ્યમંત્રી તરીકેના કાર્યકાળ દરમિયાન ૨૦૦૬થી તેઓ મુખ્યમંત્રી કાર્યાલયમાં અગ્ર સચિવ તરીકે સેવારત રહ્યા… pic.twitter.com/pC7T63I0nY

— Bhupendra Patel (@Bhupendrapbjp) June 29, 2024

Kailashnathan holds the post of Chairman of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL). He also oversees the redevelopment work of Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad. He will continue to serve in these positions.

Kuniyil Kailashnathan, born in 1953 and a 1979 batch IAS officer, served as Chief Principal Secretary to then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi during 2013-2014. Of Kerala origin, Kailashnathan grew up in Ooty, where his father worked in the Postal Department. A postgraduate from the University of Madras (MSc Chemistry) and from the University of Wales (MA Economics), Kailashnathan worked as Assistant Collector, CEO of Gujarat Maritime Board, Municipal Commissioner of Ahmedabad, PS to Urban Development and Housing Department, and retired as Additional Chief Secretary in CMO Gujarat on May 31, 2013, ending a 33-year service. He was, however, retained in the CMO as Chief Principal Secretary, a post specially created for him. DeshGujarat