Retired IAS officer turns politician to solve problems
As the elections progress in Uttar Pradesh, all major political parties seem to have dumped developmental issues and are now indulging in nitpicking of the worst kind.
A retired bureaucrat, in this situation, has decided to enter the arena and is talking about health, education and law and order.
Badal Chatterjee, a retired Indian Administrative Service officer, is contesting from Allahabad North seat as an Independent candidate. The officer, before retiring, had served as divisional commissioner of Allahabad and is well-versed with local problems.
“As an officer I tried to straighten the system, but was not allowed to do so. The government and the politicians never cooperated and there was a sense of frustration. After retirement, I decided to throw in my hat and here I am,” Mr Chatterjee said. He is disturbed over the manner in which a doctor was shot dead in his own hospital in Allahabad. “If a renowned doctor is not safe in this city then who else is?”
Mr Chatterjee was transferred out of Allahabad when he launched a drive against private practice by government doctors. The people of Allahabad held protests against his transfer. “All political parties have lost sensitivity. When students in Allahabad launched an agitation against anomalies in the UPPSC, not a single political party supported them,” he said.
He also plans to float his own political outfit later. “I have already submitted an application,” he said.