In recent times, there has been a noticeable shift in the landscape of politics, particularly in the state, where the notion that only leaders’ relatives could venture into political careers is becoming obsolete. The political arena is witnessing significant changes, with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including retired and current officials from prestigious services such as IAS, IPS, IRS, and IFS, showing interest in politics or actively seeking nominations for upcoming parliamentary and assembly elections. The trend indicates a growing attraction towards politics among the state’s bureaucracy.
Looking back, several notable figures at the national level, such as former Human Resources Minister and Mumbai Police Commissioner Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister, former IRS officer, and Congress leader Meera Kumar, former Lok Sabha Speaker, and former IFS officer, as well as former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha and former Congress Cabinet Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, both former IFS officers, have successfully transitioned into politics, leaving a mark in political circles.
This trend is also evident in Haryana, where many former and current bureaucrats are expressing their political aspirations by seeking nominations from both the BJP and Congress parties. Even within the ruling BJP, there is a visible inclination among bureaucrats towards politics. Notably, three former bureaucrats are currently serving as MPs and MLAs on BJP tickets in Haryana. Brijender Singh and Sunita Duggal, who opted for voluntary retirement, successfully contested parliamentary elections in 2019 from the Hisar and Sirsa constituencies, respectively, while Abhay Singh Yadav secured a second consecutive victory in the 2019 assembly polls.
In the current scenario, reliable sources from within the state bureaucracy and the BJP indicate that three bureaucrats, including two former and one current IPS officer, are emerging as strong contenders for BJP tickets in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, the final decision rests with the party high command, which holds the supreme authority in this matter. Former Director General of Police (DGP) BS Sandhu, belonging to the SC community, has officially joined the BJP and is vying for the Ambala seat reserved for the Scheduled Caste community. It is noteworthy that prominent BJP figures, such as Banto Kataria, wife of former Union Minister Ratanlal Kataria, are also in contention for the ticket.
Similarly, V Kamaraj, a former IPS officer from Tamil Nadu and also belonging to the SC community, has expressed his desire to contest from the Sirsa Lok Sabha seat after joining the BJP. His recent praise of PM Modi and the BJP indicates his political ambitions. Additionally, senior IPS officer Shrikant Jadhav, along with a SC candidate from Maharashtra’s Akola district, is rumored to be among the contenders for the same seat, showcasing their political aspirations. Although Shrikant Jadhav declined to comment when contacted about contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha battle.
One senior official and a prominent BJP figure, speaking anonymously, mentioned that despite his retirement approaching in April this year, there are no indications of him opting for voluntary retirement. However, if the BJP approves his name for the Lok Sabha ticket after the election announcement, it is likely that he may decide to opt for voluntary retirement. Consequently, the Sirsa parliamentary seat is expected to witness a multi-cornered battle among contenders such as V Kamaraj, Shrikant Jadhav, Ashok Tanwar (who recently joined BJP after leaving AAP), and Sunita Duggal, the incumbent BJP MP from the seat.
In recent times, several former bureaucrats, including retired IAS officers Vinay Singh Yadav, Wajir Singh Goyat, Subhash Yadav, and Chandraparkash, have joined the main opposition Congress party to pursue their political ambitions. Retired IAS Vinay Singh Yadav recently joined Congress and is reportedly keen to contest from Nagal Chaudhary against two-time BJP MLA Abhay Singh Yadav, also a former IAS officer. Similarly, Subhash Yadav and Chanderparkash, son of former MP Ramji Lal, are seeking tickets from Ateli assembly and Nalwa constituencies, respectively, with affiliations to the Kumari Selja and Bhupender Singh Hooda factions within the party. Chanderparkash, who previously served as the Commissioner of Rohtak Division and a member of the Right to Information Commission, is among those seeking political office.