It may be recalled that the previous OSD to the CM, retired IAS officer BM Sharma, had resigned as soon as the model code of conduct was enforced in the state before the by-elections to 29 assembly constituencies were held.

It is learned that the MP CMO office had also considered the names of several retired IAS officers including MB Ojha and Mahesh Chandra Chaudhari for appointment as the OSD. But none of them was willing to take up the post-retirement assignment.

Before he was shifted to Bhopal, Anand Sharma was Ujjain's divisional commissioner.