Nigam, who earlier lost the battle for Delhi Chief Secretary’s post to Rakesh Mehta, is a 1974 batch IAS officer. Among other posts he has held is that of Chief Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh, before he took on the job of heading the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in 2005.

His official appointment is likely to take place in the next two days, officials in the Union Urban Development Ministry said on Wednesday.

While the Centre has been considering various names to head the MCD, no conclusive decision had been taken as Nigam’s next posting had so far been ambiguous, Newsline was informed.

As for the next municipal commissioner, two names are doing the rounds: R Chandramohan, secretary to Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna, and Delhi Jal Board CEO Arun Mathur. Mathur is currently the front-runner for the post, sources said. He is known to be close to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who wants to retain control over the BJP-led civic body in the year Delhi goes to polls. The Assembly elections are slotted for the end of this year.

The posts of DDA vice-chairman and MCD commissioner are seen as the most coveted ones in Delhi in the run up to 2010 Commonwealth Games. Sources said Lieutenant Governor Khanna has been backing Nigam’s nomination. He had also backed Nigam for Delhi Chief Secretary post, though Mehta, widely seen as Dikshit’s candidate, won that round.