New Delhi (27.01.2025): In a significant development, the BJP-led Odisha Government on January 27, 2025 appointed Prakash Mishra (Retd IPS: 1975: OD) as advisor to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The cabinet rank given to him in the new advisory role makes his appointment even more significant. Speaking to the media, Prakash Mishra termed his appointment as a “significant’ and “trusted” responsibility.
Why Mishra is significant:
It is important to underline that the NaMo administration in its very first term picked Prakash Mishra as Director General of the largest paramilitary force i.e. CRPF. After his superannuation, the NaMo administration engaged him as DG, Home Guards, Civil Defence & Fire Services on contract basis. Later Mishra joined the BJP.
What makes Mishra’s appointment so significant:-
This is to recall that the name of Prakash Mishra drew special attention of the then Odisha Govt and the newly elected BJP Govt at the Centre. In Odisha, Mishra also functioned as CMD of Odisha State Police Housing & Welfare Corporation. While serving as State DGP, he was abruptly sidelined by the then Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik. He moved to the Centre later on.
When he missed the top job in the CBI:-
The Centre with open arms offered Prakash Mishra a significant position of Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Ministry of Home Affairs. This coincided with the Centre looking for the replacement of CBI Chief Ranjeet Sinha. Naveen Patnaik schemed (vigilance case) to finish his prospect in the CBI. A section of insiders considered Mishra as the first and foremost choice for the coveted position in the CBI for the newly elected Modi Govt.
In fact, the state vigilance lodged a case against him in late 2014, when his name had come up for the post of possible appointed as CBI Director, alleging financial improprieties during his tenure as CMD Odisha State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation from 2006 to 2009.
Though, the Orissa High Court in June 2015 quashed the vigilance FIR indicting the state government for hounding out Mishra.
President Rule and Adviser to Governor:-
Anil Kumar Sinha (Retd IPS: 1979: BH) had won the race and had become CBI Chief but nothing could deter the Centre’s will and Mishra’s fate. After President’s Rule in Uttarakhand in March 2016, the Centre picked Mishra as Adviser to Governor K K Paul.
From Khaki to Saffron on superannuation:-
Post retirement, Prakash Mishra joined Saffron Party that fielded him from Cuttack Lok Sabha constituency in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Time is a great leveller:-
Mishra missed the CBI bus by virtue of the then govt in Odisha. He failed once but emerged victorious on several occasions. This time round, he was appointed as adviser to the Chief Minister with a Cabinet Rank. Immediately after his appointment, Prakash Mishra expressed his gratitude towards Chief Minister Majhi for having trust on him. “This is a significant responsibility, and I am committed to perform to the best of my ability, always keeping the welfare of the people of Odisha at the forefront,” he stated.
(By Rakesh Ranjan)
