TV
With the defeat of the BJD Government after twenty-four years of uninterrupted rule in Odisha, it was only natural that people would be anxious to see how the new government would be picking up key officials to run the state administration and implement its programmes promised to the people. During electioneering BJP had picked up the issue of a junior official of the government having taken over complete control of the administration and having wounded Odia Asmita (self-esteem) and tried to convince voters throughout the state about this serious issue. Interestingly, people accepted the narrative and ensured a resounding victory for the BJP.
Even the invincible Naveen Patnaik lost the Election in the Kantabanji constituency to a local candidate fielded by the BJP. People, by and large, were convinced that the bureaucracy no longer retained its political neutrality with its objectivity severely impaired. Naveen Patnaik himself actively introduced a civil servant to handle political matters and spearheaded the process of politicisation of the state’s bureaucracy. He asked the favourite official to use helicopters, tour the entire state, and address handpicked people from a lavish stage with great pomp. Ministers and MLAs stood in attendance at a distance to ensure that every such show was a flawless event. This civil servant, quite junior, called the shots in the government and even emerged de facto as the most important political personality only next to the President of the BJD. Some officials were widely perceived to be his favourites and were placed in charge of crucial areas.
This was broadly the arrangement when the most unexpected event took place. The Party tasted defeat for the first time and a new government was installed. The then Chief Secretary had less than a month to retire. He was on a six-month extension and there was a possibility of the incumbent continuing with another spell of extension. The new Government, however, decided and, rightly, to have a break with the past and opted for a senior officer who was serving the Union Government as Secretary. Soon, the Chief Minister selected a senior official, empanelled as Secretary to the Government of India and who had served as Chief Electoral Officer during the Elections, as Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister. The first reshuffle surprisingly was not a comprehensive overhaul but some officials in key assignments got shifted. Crucial Departments like Finance, Housing and Urban Development, Energy, and Sports had new Secretaries, Of course, the Secretary of the politically sensitive Mission Shakti Department had been shifted by the order of the Chief Election Commissioner in the midst of Elections.
Over a period of time Odisha Government has been treating the crucial post of Secretary as a part-time assignment and many officials have been holding posts of Secretary of more than one Department along with the posts of Chairman of PSUs. This pattern deprived many officials of the opportunity to function as Secretary and unfortunately created an impression that a few were favourites of the power centre and perhaps politically more compliant. This culture led to neglect of core issues and more attention was being paid to perception management.
The expectation that the new Government would deviate from this culture unfortunately has not come about. Many officials have been put in charge of many responsibilities and the post of Secretary again has been treated as a part-time assignment. Shortage of officers cannot be the reason for the anomaly to persist. Hopefully, the new Government will revisit the issue. Officials at the grassroots level play a great role in ensuring the quality of governance. A comprehensive assessment of their performance is urgently required and officials with pronounced absence of political neutrality should be replaced to tone up the administration. Flagrant misuse of power by officials, plundering of public resources and cases of corruption are important issues which must not be glossed over. Any slackness on the issue would be violative of the wishes of the electorate. The government needs to demonstrate its commitment to a clean administration.
(DISCLAIMER: This is an opinion piece. The views expressed are the author’s own and have nothing to do with OTV’s charter or views. OTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
