Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Principal Secretary, Nripendra Misra expressed his intention to be relieved of his duties on Friday, 30 August, news agency ANI reported.
It has been a privilege to serve the country under PM Modi, Misra told ANI. "I am deeply grateful to him for this opportunity and complete confidence that he placed in me. It is time now for me to move on, even as I remain devoted to public causes and national interest," he reportedly said.
In response, PM Modi has asked him to continue for two weeks, PTI reported quoting principal government spokesperson Sitanshu Kar.
Meanwhile, the PM extended his “best wishes” to Misra for his “future endeavours”.
“After serving the PMO assiduously and diligently for over five years and making an indelible contribution to India’s growth trajectory, Nripendra Misra will be embarking on a new phase of his life,” Modi wrote in a tweet.
Stating that Misra is among the “most outstanding officers” with a “great grasp over public policy and administration”, Modi said that Misra taught him a lot and that “his guidance remains extremely valuable”.
Misra, a 1967 batch retired IAS officer, has been Modi's key aide for five years.
Misra was inducted in Team Modi when the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government came to power in 2014 following a landslide victory. He continued to be in Modi's core team after the NDA returned to power with an even bigger majority in 2019.
The PM has also appointed former cabinet secretary PK Sinha as Officer on Special Duty in the PMO, according to ANI.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)