TRS worried, top cops befriend BJP

Hyderabad: The TRS government, trying hard to counter the BJP’s moves to poach its leaders on a mission-mode, has suddenly realised a new threat.

While the BJP’s moves of tapping disgruntled TRS leaders was reason enough for the pink party to re-strategise its moves, realisation that certain serving IAS and IPS officers are warming up to the saffron brigade, has ended up in the government ordering a close watch on them.

What has irked the K. Chandrasekhar Rao-led State government is that more than IAS officers, it is the IPS officers – quite a few of them at that – who are reportedly in the “good books” of BJP. Some of the names have reached the Chief Minister.

Government sources told Deccan Chronicle that the ‘growing friendship’ of certain babus with those in BJP came to light after a particular official met a minister in the Modi government. The official was in Delhi for a meeting, after which he is said to have had a closed-door meeting with the senior BJP neta.

Though this meeting took place almost two months ago, another bits of information surfaced in between, suggesting that two more officials were in regular touch with some BJP leaders in Delhi.

While it is not uncommon for central ministers to ask visiting officials from states as to the local political developments, it is learnt that officials from Telangana used the opportunity to get close to the central ministers by revealing lots of sensitive information on a host of issues concerning law and order, appeasement of certain sections of society, and most importantly, information about disgruntled elements within TRS.

Besides, the officials explained to them the various schemes launched by the state government, its status and importantly, the problems associated with them. The discussions also veered around certain political families in the state as well.

It is widely believed in government circles that while some officials are trying to get cosy with the BJP for better future prospects in terms of getting key postings, both in centre and state, others are looking for political careers post-retirement, since they believe the BJP is here to stay. With G Kishan Reddy being appointed as the minister of state for home, considered a powerful post, the IPS fraternity is vying for his attention.

Ever since these aspects came to light, a close watch is being kept on officials visiting Delhi on various official meetings. Regular feedback is being sought by the top leadership on these officials.

“The BJP will obviously to get maximum information on the ground situation and goings-on the state from both officials and TRS leaders, besides their own leaders. They would like to gather information from different sources on the failures of the government. It is here that officials come in handy for the BJP, which has set its eyes on forming a government in Telangana,” remarked a senior official, privy to these developments.

He said, “it appears that these officials are discreetly advising the BJP, which will help them build a political narrative to dethrone the TRS in times to come”.