Bureaucracy in a Huddle in UP, as Many Have Never Experienced BJP Govt in Service so Far

Lucknow: ‎The fear of unknown, that's what has gripped the bureaucracy in Uttar Pradesh following the landslide victory of the BJP in Assembly polls.

And it's obvious, as 70 percent of bureaucrats and police officials serving in the state have never seen or worked under the BJP rule. So, now, as BJP gears to officially form the government, bureaucrats have gone in a huddle trying to make links with people who can matter in the BJP and simultaneously are also busy familiarising themselves with the party's manifesto. No wonder, the BJP manifesto has virtually become a Bible for many a top babus.

This sense of disconnect with new political masters is obvious. While the BJP has been in and out of political power in UP during the '90s - the last government being that of Rajnath Singh as Chief Minister, which remained in office till 2002 - the political spectrum for more than two decades has been, more or less, dominated by regional players, like the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party.

‎The subsequent result has been that bureaucracy not just got to familiarise with work style and mind set of leaders like Mulayam Singh, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav, many a top officers, both in administration and police, slowly worked upward to make personal relations with top leaders of these parties.

But this familiarisation was‎ not just limited to understanding the work style, mindset, and having a personal connect, a big aspect of political narrative was also about an open caste and religious bias.

A senior bureaucrat, who has served on several important posts under both Mayawati and Akhilesh government, said, "So far bureaucracy and police officials had been accustomed to caste and sometimes religious preferences in appointment during BSP and SP rule. It came as privilege for some and disadvantage for others. The caste bias in postings was seen from top to bottom, from secretariat to districts, from DGP office to police stations. Now, a government under a national party will probably put an end to this practice."

Another interesting aspect about the latest scenario for the bureaucracy is that most of the IAS officers up to the level of Commissioners and DIGs are those who came in service over the last decade and a half. Hence, during their service they never got the experience to work under the BJP rule.

A woman bureaucrat, with around six years of service, said: "Like me and many others, there had been no brush ever with a BJP government so far. But now, the general sense among officers is that a government of a national party, and most importantly driven by vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, will go for merit in appointment, rather than caste and personal considerations."

On the question whether bureaucrats will get respite from the rowdyism of leaders and political workers of the ruling dispensation, bureaucracy is a bit divided in its opinion; while the above mentioned bureaucrat feels that things will be far better than political intervention at district and thana level during the Akhilesh government, others are a bit apprehensive because of the sort of mandate which the BJP has got.

A senior bureaucrat cautioned: "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It will be a tough time for the new government to bring in the respect for 'rule of the law' among its cadre and leaders, on the ground."

But for the moment, the entire bureaucracy remains in a state of flux. From CM Secretariat to DGP office in Lucknow, incumbents are in a state of 'ready to move'‎. Similar is the situation across districts. Officers anticipate a large scale bureaucratic and police reshuffle.

While most officers are consigned to their fate, not all of them are in mood to 'accept as it comes'. It's this lot which has desperately started to cultivate links and contacts with those leaders who will likely matter in the new government.

A senior BJP functionary shares the experience. He said: 'I never got so many calls, best wishes and sweet boxes from officers on any Holi before this year. The reason for this new love is easy to understand."

Senior bureaucrats and police officials, eyeing top postings like chief secretary, ‎DGP and others are reportedly also getting in touch with senior leaders in the Union government. Eyes are also on some senior bureaucrats presently on central deputation. Some of them are expected to return back to UP.

Apart from attempts at building personal contacts, bureaucrats, in key offices, have already started working on the BJP manifesto.

A very senior bureaucrat, presently posted as Principal Secretary in Lucknow, said: "BJP's election manifesto is the guiding document for us. We know, we will not be given much time for policy formation. The Modi government's model of 'deliver, and deliver fast and accurate' will be implemented in the state as well. Hence, for officers like us, the manifesto or vision document has become a Bible.”