Dilli Ka Babu: Election fears

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee managed to stay ahead of the recent announcement of Assembly elections dates by the Election Commission, and carried out several reshuffles to ensure that the “right” babus were stationed at the right places and those whose “loyalty” is suspect were weeded out. But her suspicions, warranted or not, have grounded 12 IAS officers who are awaiting appointment after their return from a three-month training in Delhi. Customarily such officers are posted as sub-divisional officers (SDOs), in charge of a sub-division. These officers were probably expecting no different but the state government thinks otherwise.

The official explanation being doled out is that the officers “lack experience in handling elections”, but observers believe that Ms Banerjee is wary of appointing them since she suspects they may have been “brainwashed” during their training by the Modi sarkar. Not taking chances she has appointed them as officers on special duty (OSDs), without any specific role. And since OSDs cannot become returning officers, the government seems to have played its cards well.

However, the officers now face the unpleasing prospect of several months of inactivity in what would have been a two-year stint as SDOs. But nothing decides priorities like an Assembly election!

Transfer politics

It’s no secret that much of the tussle between the Centre and the Delhi government is being played out through the bureaucracy. Now in a major reshuffle involving at least two-dozen senior IAS officers, the Centre has once again opened another front with the Arvind Kejriwal sarkar. Among the officials transferred are principal secretary for power, Shakuntla Gamlin, who has been appointed chief secretary of Arunachal Pradesh, and home secretary S.N. Sahai, who’s been transferred to Goa.

Many of the transferred babus, including Ms Gamlin and Mr Sahai, have been at loggerheads with the Aam Aadmi Party government. Ms Gamlin was briefly named temporary chief secretary of Delhi by lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung against Mr Kejriwal’s wishes.

Mr Sahai too fell foul of the state government for challenging his political masters over the suspension of two special secretaries working under him. Not surprisingly, Anindo Majumdar, who had signed the order on Ms Gamlin under direction from Mr Jung, has been moved out to Andaman and Nicobar Islands as chief secretary. Possibly, the transferred babus and the Delhi government both are pleased with the transfers.

Still in the game

The Gujarat Vigilance Commission (GVC), which looks into complaints of misappropriation by state babus, is without a head. Additional chief secretary P.K. Taneja is overseeing its functioning as an additional charge. Traditionally, say observers, the GVC has been used as a “sanctuary” for disgruntled babus. It is a toothless organisation which has only recommendatory powers. And more often than not, even its recommendations remain largely on paper.

Still, there are at least four retired senior IAS officers who are in the race to occupy the top post. Haribhai Patel, H.K. Dash, Rajesh Kishore and S.K. Nanda have reportedly applied for the position at GVC. Sources say that Mr Nanda, the senior-most among the applicants and who retired last month as chairman and managing director of the state-owned Gujarat State Finance Corporation, was allegedly denied the position of chief secretary for his reported close ties with Congress politicians. He clearly hopes that he will not be rebuffed again. Their fate will be decided by the state home department or, as some insinuate, by the Prime Minister’s Office.