Bhubaneswar: A day after he was formally relieved by the state government to proceed on central deputation, senior IAS officer Nikunja Bihari Dhal on Saturday took to social media to highlight how his last 18 months in Odisha affected his work-life balance, affecting his health.
In his Linkedin profile, Dhal posted that the last weeks were ‘stressful’, indicating the plausible reason for getting relieved as the Additional Chief Secretary to CM Mohan Charan Majhi.
The 1993-batch officer was appointed as Additional Chief Secretary to the CM on June 30, 2024 after the BJP government came to power in the state. Prior to that, he served as the chief electoral officer (CEO) and the simultaneous elections to the Odisha Assembly and Lok Sabha were conducted during his tenure.
Dhal mentioned that he was hospitalised in early March. “I could not attend to my family and persona! matters over the last 18 months. I could not also take care of my health. The most challenging General Elections in 2024 which | conducted as the Chief Electoral Officer and the subsequent posting as Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, which required long working hours disturbed my work-life balance and affected my health,” he wrote.
The senior IAS officer hoped to find some balance in the coming days. Significantly, he reposed his faith in God and thanked his ‘friends and well-wishers for standing by me in hours of need’ but not mentioned anything about the Chief Minister, government or his colleagues. “Whatever happens is the wish of God. God has His own plans. Grateful to the Almighty for his abundant blessings. Gratitude to my family for their full support and understanding. Thankful to my friends and well wishers for standing by me in hours of need,” he added.
The post is being seen as an attempt by Dhal to clear the air by highlighting how long working hours had affected his health amid speculation that he was relieved from the ‘powerful’ position as a section within the ruling BJP wasn’t too happy with him.
The 1993-batch IAS officer was posted as secretary in the Parliamentary Affairs ministry after approval by the Appointments Committee on April 18. He will succeed Umang Narula, who retires on June 30.
However, the state government is yet to notify Dhal’s replacement though he has been relieved, raising eyebrows over the goings-on in the Majhi dispensation. The selection of his replacement is being closely watched as the position is considered one of the most significant in the state administration.
