MP CM ASSERTS AUTHORITY, SHAKES UP BUREAUCRACY

‘Many of the officers who have been removed were not touched even by the Congress government, given their clout and that of Chouhan.’

Sixty days into the chair, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has swiftly broken away from the larger-than-life legacy of his predecessor, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who left with the distinction of serving as CM for almost 17 years.

Yadav, who was chosen as the CM face by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has taken steps that clearly indicate that he is going to chart his own path, different from what Chouhan had been taking.

After taking oath middecember, Yadav—who was seen as a surprise choice, given his “minor” political stature in comparison to Chouhan—effected large scale transfers of bureaucrats which also includes moving out IAS and IPS officers who were close to the former CM and were termed as “super CMS” of the state.

While this was expected, what has created discussions in Bhopal and Delhi, is the swiftness with which he has executed these policy changes to give a message that his government will not like to associate with officials, who took questionable decisions and were allowed to go scotfree in the previous rule.

Yadav, who was not aware that he would lead the government till the last moment when his name was announced, in a far-reaching political decision, in the last week of January, made it clear that it would no longer be obligatory to stand up when the state anthem is played, a more than decade long practice that was introduced by Chouhan and much publicized.

On 25 January, while attending an event organized to hand over appointment letters to newly selected government officials, Yadav chose not to stand up and instructed the others present on the dais to keep sitting when the state anthem was played. Later, the three-time MLA told the audience that the Madhya Pradesh anthem or any other song cannot be equated with the National Anthem or National Song.

Similarly, many high-profile bureaucrats, who were considered too influential to be affected by the government change, have been changed. Ashutosh Pratap Singh, a 2010 batch Indian

Police Service officer, who for the last six years was handling the much important Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) that takes care of the media relations of the Chief Minister, was moved out of the agency on 22 January by Yadav. Singh is married to the niece of Shivraj. Till the time he was in DPR, Singh’s word was considered as the last voice on many issues related to the media in the state. He was replaced with Sandeep Yadav.

Another high profile transfer that has been effected by Yadav is the appointment of 2009 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Avinash Lavania, who was made Additional Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office. Lavania is the son-inlaw of former Home Minister Narottam Mishra, whose hot and warm relations with Shivraj has generated multiple news reports in Bhopal and Delhi.

Another set of significant transfers was effected in the case of Manish Rastogi (1994 batch IAS) who was working as Principal Secretary to Chouhan, Manish Singh (1997 batch IAS) who was Commissioner, DPR during Chouhan’s tenure, Neeraj

Vasisth—an MP state administrative service officer who was awarded IAS in 2020 and was posted as Deputy Secretary to Chouhan. All these three were considered to be powerful officers due to their proximity to Chouhan.

Similarly, 2007 batch IAS officer, Om Prakash Shrivastava, who was made the Excise Commissioner in September 2022 was moved out of the highly rich department, made Secretary, Home Department, which is headed by the Chief Minister himself. India Police Service officer of 1989 batch was relieved as the Transport Secretary, a post that was given to him by Chouhan in July 2022.

Well known Bhopal-based Right to Information (RTI) activist and anti-corruption crusader, Ajay Dubey said that many of the transfers of powerful bureaucrats were not expected, given the stature they enjoyed during the time of Chouhan. “Many of the officers who have been removed were not touched even by the Congress government, given their clout and that of Chouhan. Yadav has moved out many officers who saw themselves as very powerful and influential,” he said.

The clout enjoyed by a select group of bureaucrats in Madhya Pradesh for the last decade and more, which Dubey refers to, was raised by Chouhan’s own party colleagues and ministers.

Senior party leader Kailash Vijayvargiya, Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur were among those who had spoken out publicly against the officialdom that was given undue power during the term of Chouhan.

Former ministers Brajendra Pratap Singh, Mahendra Singh Sisodia and Brijendra Singh Yadav had in the run-up to the 2023 Assembly elections publicly questioned the “unbridled” power that the bureaucracy was enjoying under Chouhan.

According to a recently retired MP cadre IAS officer, who is now settled in Delhi, there were roughly 10% of the total 350 plus IAS officers in the state, who were close to the CM directly and indirectly while the rest were merely pushing the files.

“In every state across India, a common phenomenon emerges where long-serving Chief Ministers tend to develop close ties with a select group of bureaucrats or officials within the administrative structure. This group, typically comprising 5-10 individuals, holds significant sway over decision-making processes and policy implementation within the government machinery. These select officers in turn delegate their power to a few more and the round-high table in which the CM is in the middle, gets complete,” he said. According to him, there was right now a sense of fear among the bureaucrats. “He has taken on-thespot decisions, like removing the high-profile Transport Commissioner after 13 people died in a bus accident. I would have never imagined this in the previous rule. The bureaucracy for the first time in many years is feeling the need to be on their toe and not to antagonize the public. It is a good signal for the state,” he added.

A senior former Rajya Sabha member had told this newspaper in Bhopal days after Yadav had taken oath that despite questions being raised on the new CM’S “calibre” and ability to step into the large shoes of Chouhan, Yadav would surprise everyone with his decisions.