It’s been nearly three weeks now since the the imposition of President’s rule in the State. But the Union Government is still playing its cards close to its chest over appointing advisors (also called the Executive Committee) to the Governor.
With governor Rameshwar Thakur returning on Friday from his five-day visit to New Delhi, power circles in the state are abuzz with speculation in this regard. The governor had held talks with the President and Prime Minister during his trip to Delhi.
The names of several senior retired IAS and IPS officers are making the rounds as the probable advisors to the Governor.
Official sources said that advisors are normally appointed within a week after imposition of President’s rule. These advisors - three to four senior officials (in the Chief Secretary or Additional Chief Secretary rank) - will act as virtual cabinet, which will be headed by the Governor.
The Union Home Ministry will pick the ‘right’ officers for the posts, and this will be officially notified by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
In fact, it is only after the appointment of the advisors that the administrative machinery will function in full swing, sources said. Some names of retired IAS officers who are likely to be on the committee include S K Das, M B Prakash, Chiranjeev Singh and Teresa Battacharya.
Probables
The name of K C Lynn, who has wide experience (he had served as the principal secretary to four chief ministers and chief secretary during the tenure of the then CM Veerappa Moily) is also doing the rounds, as is that of IAS officer (retired) Jayakar Jerome’s name.
Jerome was known as the ‘demolition man’ when he was commissioner of the BDA, during S M Krishna’s tenure as chief minister.
Sources said that there has been hectic lobbying among officials to secure the coveted posts.
Generally one IPS officer (retired) is on the advisory committee. For this, Joginder Singh, R Ramalingam, T Madiyal, Revannasiddaiah are seen as probables - they have all retired from the service. 
“There are chances that no IPS person is included in advisory committee at all,” official sources added.
But none in the top official circles is sure as to who will finally make it.
“Selection is done at the top most level, and hardly anybody in the State know about the list,” officials said. They, however, said that the official notification in this regard is expected to be out shortly in Delhi.