The return of Sunil Arora to the Centre ends the IAS officer’s nine-year vanvas . He is all set to become the Secretary to the newly created Department of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship under the Ministry of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs and Sports.

A 1980 batch Rajasthan cadre officer, Arora is reputed to be a no-nonsense go-getter. Under his watch as Chairman and Managing Director, Indian Airlines made a turnaround and by the time he left, the loss-making IA was reporting marginal profits. It was also during his tenure that IA was finally able to complete the deal for purchasing the much-needed new aircraft; a deal for 43 planes that Airbus won.

This successful tenure was preceded by a stint as the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation when the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA was at the Centre between 1998 and 2004. Though trying to remain low-key in his dealings, Arora did manage to ruffle a lot of political feathers. So much so that, going by the rumour mill, in 2004 when the UPA replaced the BJP-led Government, at least two former Civil Aviation Ministers cautioned the incumbent, Praful Patel, about Arora.

Power play

Why did Arora annoy so many? For one, Arora was seen as using to his advantage his closeness to the former Vice-President and BJP strong man, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. No pushover, Arora realised early how things worked in the corridors of power and if he felt that a decision was being taken for political considerations rather than in the interest of a PSU under the Civil Aviation Ministry, he was not afraid of getting them reversed.

Swift action

BusinessLine learnt this first hand when it reported about an officer being appointed to head a PSU under the Ministry of Civil Aviation only to have Arora call the next morning saying that the news was not correct. It later transpired that in a swift midnight move, the appointment had been stayed as Arora had convinced the decision-makers that the officer concerned was too junior to do justice to the post.

Arora was firm with his staff. According to some of those who have worked with him, at meetings Arora would put his wrist watch on the table to ensure that the meeting did not meander on and that participants spoke only on the issue at hand. With a head for details, staff would get a mouthful if they fudged or made up facts.

Arora’s fortunes fell with the change of government at the Centre. When the UPA-led Government came to power, Arora was repatriated to his home cadre which is where he remained for a decade working in various departments, including a nearly three-year stint in the Chief Minister’s Office.

Despite repeated attempts, Arora could not come back to the Centre during the UPA regime.

Every time his name was empanelled to become a Secretary at the Centre, newspaper articles would appear about Arora having written to the Manmohan Singh Government alleging wrong doing in the decision to purchase aircraft for Air India. The negative publicity spoilt Arora’s chances.

But, now, with a BJP-led Government at the Centre, Arora is back.

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