In Bhopal, a big change hit the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Secretariat on Tuesday. Arvind Sharma stepped in as the new Principal Secretary, ending A.P. Singh’s impressive 10-year run in the top job.
Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar greenlit the move, kicking off what many see as a fresh start for the secretariat’s day-to-day work. It’s already sparking buzz in political circles across Madhya Pradesh.
Sharma brings solid experience from his time as a director in the Lok Sabha, India’s lower house of Parliament. He joined the assembly team right after Tomar took the speaker’s chair, and now this promotion aims to bring new energy and expertise in parliamentary matters to the role.
Sharma takes over from A.P. Singh, who wrapped up his tenure after starting in 2016. Singh’s time in the post stood out—he got two extensions after retirement age, something unheard of in the state’s assembly history. That made his decade-long stretch a record for steady leadership in the secretariat.
But Singh’s next chapter isn’t without drama. The state government picked him for an administrative spot on the Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission, right after he retired. Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar called foul during the selection meeting, pointing to what he called procedural slip-ups. Singhar says the Congress party plans to fight the appointment in the High Court.
Even with the controversy swirling, Singh got a heartfelt send-off. On Tuesday, Speaker Tomar and top officials gathered at the secretariat for a warm farewell ceremony. The day before, the former Legislative Assembly honored him too. Singh looked back on his service with pride, calling it “a matter of pride” in his reflections.
Officials expect the state government to roll out official orders for Singh’s new Human Rights Commission role any day now.
As Arvind Sharma settles into the Principal Secretary position, eyes are on how his Lok Sabha background and parliamentary know-how will steer things. With Madhya Pradesh’s 2028 Assembly elections on the horizon, this administrative reshuffle could shape the secretariat’s path forward in exciting ways.
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