The reshuffle signals a de facto change in the state government. Prasad was a BSP appointee, preserved by the previous government at the Centre and governor Moti Lal Vora. Both did not want to send a wrong signal as Prasad is a dalit.
But things have changed now. Under the Presidents Rule, it is the United Front that reins control. And in UP, it means Mulayam Singh Yadav will. Sahai is Mulayams protege. Besides, he shares an interest in golf with present UP governor Romesh Bhandari.
Prasad has had been eyeing the cabinet secretarys post for a while as the present incumbent, TSR Subramaniam, is due to retire on December 31.
He was keen on the home secretarys position as well but ultimately had to settle for water resources.
Susheel Tripathi, the secretary to the governor, has been posted to Delhi as the states resident commissioner. It is widely believed that he has been shifted out because of the Rohit Nandan episode.