By: Aswini Kumar Darjee
Bhubaneswar- In the intricate corridors of Odisha’s bureaucracy, where each floor carries its own aura of influence, two seasoned IAS officers have traded places-signaling not just a shift in designations but a fascinating tale of timing, strategy, and experience.
Life indeed seems to have come full circle for Rupa Roshan Sahoo and Saswat Mishra. Once a commanding presence on the iconic third floor of the Lok Seva Bhawan during the Naveen Patnaik era, Rupa Roshan is now the Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the Governor, overseeing the stately affairs of Raj Bhawan. In a striking reversal of roles, Saswat Mishra, who had earlier served at Raj Bhawan with clipped wings during the previous regime, is now back in the heart of executive power—this time on the third floor, as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister.
This development is more than just a bureaucratic reshuffle; it’s a narrative of professional evolution, patience, and strategic redeployment. For Saswat Mishra, the once-muted walls of Raj Bhawan might have offered contemplative quietude, but now, the energy of the third floor demands dynamic decision-making and deft political navigation. And few understand the third floor better than Rupa Roshan Sahoo, who once played a key administrative role there and now carries that deep institutional knowledge to the Raj Bhawan, potentially turning it into a more visible and active constitutional address.
In a system where every corridor carries whispers of power and prestige, this swap is seen as symbolic of the changing winds in Odisha’s governance. While Saswat brings with him a calm, seasoned understanding of the Governor’s House, useful for managing CM affairs with poise, Rupa Roshan’s familiarity with the third floor could breathe new life into the ceremonial walls of the Raj Bhawan.
It’s a reminder that in bureaucracy, as in life, roles may reverse, desks may change, but experience never goes to waste—it only finds a new place to assert itself.
This revolving door of influence doesn’t just shape governance; it crafts stories of resilience and redemption in the power-packed lanes of Bhubaneswar.
