Is Tea Board going to have a new Chairman soon? The present Chairman M.G.V.K. Bhanu, according to tea industry sources, is likely to go back to Assam in January. A 1985-batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service, Bhanu belongs to the Assam cadre. He joined as Tea Board Chairman in November 2011 on a five-year term.
Inquiries reveal that Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi wants Bhanu back in the State at the earliest and has accordingly urged the Union Government to release him from Tea Board without delay. When contacted, Bhanu declined to comment, except saying, “I’ve not received any official order.”
Meanwhile, speculation is rife over the appointment of next Tea Board Chairman. The Bengal Government, it is learnt, wants some one from the State cadre to succeed Bhanu and has accordingly held preliminary discussion with the authorities concerned in Delhi.