Bengaluru: Hours after assuming office as Karnataka chief minister, D K Shivakumar moved swiftly to constitute his core administrative team, with the state government appointing senior bureaucrats to key positions in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
Senior IAS officer Tushar Girinath has been appointed as Additional Chief Secretary to the chief minister. He will continue to hold charge of the Urban Development Department in addition to his new responsibilities.
The government has also appointed Rajendra Cholan as Secretary to the Chief Minister. Cholan will simultaneously continue as Managing Director of Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL).
In another significant appointment, retired IAS officer Ateek L K has been named Financial Advisor to the chief minister with immediate effect.
According to the government order, Ateek will be entitled to salary and service benefits equivalent to those of the state’s chief secretary. He will also continue to serve as chairman of the Bangalore Business Corridor project.
The appointments come as the new administration begins setting up its governance framework following the change in leadership. Officials said the move is aimed at ensuring administrative continuity and accelerating decision-making in key sectors.
The inclusion of experienced bureaucrats in the CMO is being viewed in political and administrative circles as an effort by the Shivakumar government to strengthen governance and expedite the implementation of its priorities.
