Dilli Ka Babu
Straw in wind
This should set alarm bells ringing in the BJP government of Karnataka. If babus are known to be accurate forecasters of the political winds of change, then the party may have a lot to worry about. Given that the state is scheduled for elections next year, a number of retired bureaucrats have been making a beeline to join the Congress.
Sources say, in recent days at least two senior retired IAS officers, Ashok Kumar Manoli and S. Puttaswamy, joined the Congress. Babu-watchers say that more retired babus are expected to join the Congress, apart from dissident BJP ministers and legislators. Among the babus whose names are being discussed by babu-watchers are former DGP S.M. Bidari, Siddaiah and Baburao Mudbi. Have these babus sensed the change in the wind, which has eluded the ruling party? This may well be a sign of things to come.
No deputation
A marked reluctance displayed by IFS officers to serve on deputation in other Central ministries has created a piquant situation. The trend has become more marked in recent times. The objection desi diplomats have for not seeking deputation, it is surmised, is that a stint outside the ministry of external affairs would necessarily lead to distancing them from the karmbhoomi, which could impact their future advancement.
Earlier it was not unusual to see IFS officers working as joint secretaries in Union ministries. But the defence ministry has not seen an IFS officer on deputation in the past four years, resulting in important posts being occupied by IAS babus. Curiously, IFS officers are reluctant to even serve in the ministry of overseas Indian affairs (MOIA), which was actually carved out of the MEA. The last joint secretary of the MOIA, D.N. Srivastava, took premature repatriation in 2010, after which there have been no takers for this post from among the IFS officers.
Besides 1993 batch Sanjay Sudhir there are only two other IFS officers currently on deputation — Amar Sinha in the commerce ministry and Rahul Kulshreshth in the department of atomic energy.
Haryana unrest
In the recent transfers of babus ordered by the Haryana government, the media focused on IAS officer Ashok Khemka. There is a lot of heartburn among the tribesmen as many senior officers have been ignored while juniors have been posted to cadre posts. Apparently, a la Khemka another IAS officer, Nitin Yadav, was shunted out of the post of managing director of Haryana State Electronics Development Corporation (Hatron) after less than three months in the post.
Mainly the anger is for giving three cadre posts to Vivek Atrey. Being a state civil service officer, Mr Atrey is not eligible for a cadre post. Yet, not only has he replaced Mr Yadav but been given two more positions in the administration. But unlike Mr Khemka who had revolted, the babus in Haryana are keeping the angst in check.
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