Retired babus to test luck in politics

POSTRETIREMENT JOB Over dozen retired bureaucrats vying for Congress tickets for the upcoming assembly election JAIPUR

: Retired bureaucrats are not behind in trying their luck in the political battlefield and more than 10 high-profile “babus” have already joined politics and many are likely to join soon.

It is not a new trend as every five years during the assembly and Lok Sabha elections, retired bureaucrats appears on the poll scene.

This time round, more than a dozen retired bureaucrats are vying for tickets from as many assembly seats from the Congress. In the last four years, retired Indian Police Services (IPS) officials, including Vijendra Jhala, RP Meena and K Ram, Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officers, including Brij Mohan Meena, Sukhpal Meena and BP Meena from the Indian Revenue Services and KL Meghwal from railway services has joined the Congress.

Jhala is claiming his candidature from Bilada while K Ram from Nagaur, Brij Mohan Meena from Lalsot (Dausa); Sukpal Meena from Bundi, BP Meena from Rajgarh (Alwar) and KL Meghwal from Khajuwala.

A retired bureaucrat, who did not want to be named, said there are a number of others who too intend to contest the elections but have not joined any political party until date.

Names of a number of retired bureaucrats, including IAS officials Ajay Singh Chittora and Lalit Mehra, retired IPS officials Giriraj Meena, Habib Khan Goran and Lal Chand Aswal are making the rounds.

State president of Congress Senior Citizen Cell K Ram said, “In the end it is the winna ability, which is the parameter for any party to give ticket to an aspirant.

“Bureaucrats have joined the Congress and many others wish to contest the polls but haven’t joined any party but may join soon.”

Retired bureaucrats have experience of administration and are aware of social issues, Ram said.

“A party gets an experienced hand and known face among the public.

“It, however, has another side that of party workers or leaders, aspiring for long, might get disappointed,” he said.

“Any individual, be it a bureaucrat, who joins the party and wishes to contest, should be sure of their following, and as a candidate, should have his or her base in the respective constituency.”

The Congress earlier had also fielded retried bureaucrats in the elections–former IPS Namonarayan Meena was elected as a parliamentarian and became a Union minister.

Former IPS officer Laxman Meena was given a Lok Sabha ticket from Dausa and before that an assembly ticket from Bassi.

In addition, former IAS officer Mahendra Singh, who once contested the elections and Satnarayan Singh are office bearers.

Similarly, the BJP too has fielded retired bureaucrats such as CR Chaudhary and Arjun Ram Meghwal—both retired IAS officers-- who at present are Union ministers while Harish Meena, former state director general of police is a parliamentarian from Dausa.

A senior BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, said bureaucrats join a party but it generally happens when the elections are close.