Extension likely for Chief Secretary of Uttarr Pradesh SP Goyal?

The question doing the rounds in bureaucratic circles in Uttar Pradesh presently is who will be the new Chief Secretary of the state. The point to ponder is, whether ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the state will get a new Chief Secretary? The current Chief Secretary, Shashi Prakash (SP) Goyal, is due to retire on January 31, 2027. By then, the Model Code of Conduct for the elections may already be in force. In such a situation, to avoid administrative reshuffles, both the state Government and the Election Commission may consider giving SP Goyal a three- to six-month extension. This could help ensure that the election process is completed smoothly.