When the writing is on the wall, even officials conditioned for long to be mum suddenly become vocal and throw their weight around, leaving the ‘tough’ administration in a tizzy. With the Telugu Desam Party winning three Graduates MLC seats and the lone MLAs quota MLC seat it had contested in the recent elections, the climate in Andhra Pradesh Secretariat has changed. Officers at all levels, from junior to senior, have become unusually vocal. The corridors of power, previously confined to whispers, are now echoing with clear and bold talk at high decibels, especially on matters concerning outstanding payments. Officers have begun to openly insist on timely payments, regardless of the damage potential to the cash-strapped government. Heralding the change, right on the day of the declaration of MLC elections’ results, one of the officers be moaned loudly that his newspaper bills had not been paid. Taking a cue from him, others are likely to steel themselves in the days ahead in line with the changed political atmosphere in Andhra Pradesh.
Centre to make the most of retired officers
The Government of India has changed rules with scope to engage seasoned bureaucrats from among those who have retired. As the demand for high-performing IAS officers is high in the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), the cream of retired IAS officials may be engaged in the wing as consultants. The icing on the cake for these bureaucrats, who will continue to enjoy the glamour quotient of their work, is that there is no age limit for being hired as consultants. Further, some of these re-hired bureaucrats, especially nosey parkers, could be appointed to probe disciplinary cases against serving officials. This top-up in career progression has enthused bureaucrats who no longer need to pin their hopes on always being in the good books of the state government. Not all bureaucrats in TS are getting the role they want. That apart, the applications for a few posts defined recently are also in big numbers. It would be interesting to see who all will make the moves first.
TSPSC reform may begin with heads rolling
With outraged students and the unemployed as well as enraged opposition parties demanding total overhaul of the Telangana State Public Service Commission following the leak of multiple examination papers, it appears that the mending process will begin with TSPSC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy being asked to put in his papers. There is a bubbling anger among youth that nobody in TSPSC is being held responsible and accountable. A little bird told yours truly that oversight at the top level may cost Janardhan Reddy his post since he has been directly in the line of fire. The buzz is that heads may roll as part of the reforms. For, during the review meeting with the Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao reportedly opined that the situation could have been prevented had the chairman and secretary Anita Ramchandran been more careful with staff and confidential matters. The buzz is that the changes are expected to be effected once the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submits its inquiry report on the leak of papers to the state government.
What information does Bandi have up his sleeves?
Does BJP TS unit chief Bandi Sanjay have vital information concerning the TSPSC paper leak up his sleeves? This question springs up when we consider the fact that Bandi Sanjay, while he was at a function in Siddipet, suddenly called for a media briefing around 10:00 pm. In less than seven minutes of that interaction, Sanjay made accusations that the Chief Minister’s Office too is involved in the TSPSC paper leak. For the unversed, Bandihad claimed that a retired officer with a key role in CMO, who had previously leaked Singareni papers, was instrumental in the leak of TSPSC papers. While newshounds were wondering what information Bandi had and who had tipped him at that late hour, the BJP leader cryptically also said that when TSPSC Commission was setup, three people had decided the Commission’s structure and “all of them are involved”.
Cops and neighbourhood watch
It looks like cops too need to be wary of neighbourhood watch, though they know it to be an effective method of reducing crime! Otherwise, a cop’s sincerity could be questioned based on his neighbours and who he moves with. TPCC chief Revanth Reddy has his own doubts over the objectivity of SIT Incharge for TSPSC leakage A R Srinivas. For, the police officer happens to be a neighbour of Minister KTRama Rao’s relative. A R Srinivas and Raj Pakala (brother-in-law of KTR) live in the same locality at Raidurgam. Revanth told the media, ostensibly for private consumption, that A R Srinivas and Raj Pakala speak to each other during evening walks and at social events.
IPS officers detest politicised probes
The Telangana government’s decision to constitute Special Investigation Teams (SITs) — one to counter the central government’s CBI in MLAs poaching case and the other on TSPSC paper leak issue – and the notices issued to TPCC president A Revanth Reddy and Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar and others have embroiled the IPS officers concerned in avoidable controversies. They now feel torn between the tug of war between the BJP-led government at the Centre and the BRS government in the state for no fault of theirs. IPS officers are working under the BRS government, and they need to act according to the directions of the state government. But their service rules are governed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. So, they are unwittingly getting involved in a proxy war between BRS and BJP. Official circles are now worried that the Union government could use central investigation agencies like IT and ED against officials who do not toe the Union government’s line. All they want is cordial relations between the state and the central governments.
