Civil Servants who has taken plunge in politics

The relationship between bureaucracy between politics and bureaucracy is quite interesting. It has invariably been in a mood of volatile equilibrium and subject to constant adjustment. As representative of the people, the minister has an electoral mandate to accomplish while. the bureaucrats in Indian democracy are supposed to rise above party consideration for being the President’s or the Governor’s appointee. In a democracy, bureaucracy and political intervention go hand in hand. A hierarchial, unyielding institution, bureaucracy has received flak several times for not being responsive to popular demands though it is not supposed to own any political responsibility; the state of dependence of the ministers on the civil servants leading to a kind of “dictatorship of the bureaucracy”; formation of an authoritative pressure group that strives to fulfill group interest even defying national interest if necessary. Kautilya’s Arthashastra recommend loyalty and earnestness as the two most important qualifications for an eligible civil servant. Kautilya also proposes a continuous watch on their performance, and feedback on their work to the king. It is axiomatic that Arthashastra’s recommendation has tremendous relevance in Indian democracy of today. Indian bureaucrats have a certain amount of social respectability which people of other professions do not achieve easily in India. Most of the bureaucrats try to stay loyal to their responsibilities. Being administrative experts, bureaucrats understand what policy is feasible and what not. Hence the minister rely on them in respect of determining the feasibility of a policy from administrative point of view. Thus in a healthy situation, the minister and the bureaucracy complement each other mutually – the minister contributes to the policy decisions and the bureaucracy leads the implementation of the decisions. However, bureaucrats face a different situation in the Indian context. Those civil servants, who raise their voice against corruption, pose a threat to powerful politicians and are bound to face their wrath. They may be demoted, transferred, suspended, even dismissed. This has compelled Indian bureaucratic elites are far more anxious to hide the problem and sometimes become a ‘gains partner’ in an immoral environment within the government. A survey, conducted by the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC), has found India to have the most inefficient bureaucracy in Asia. Now there is huge list of civil servants who have joined politics after retirement and sometimes after resigning from the service. From Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi to Satyapal Singh, former Chief of Army Staff V K Singh to former IFS officer Mani Shankar Aiyar,  Meira Kumar , Ex IPS officer Nikhil Kumar to former IRS officer Arvind Kejriwal.  What is interesting to note that bureaucrats tend to politics which has once pressurised them to opt for unethical actions. Perhaps, they have grasped the fact that politicians somehow manage to dominate over civil servants and to have political clout is prerequisite to do welfare for society without succumbing to any pressure groups. The trend of resigning from service to join politics has become more noticeable over the last ten years. Here are the names of the civil servants who have joined politics and shot to fame for their rebellious and independent decisions and actions during their innings in politics so far:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kiran Bedi

Kiran Bedi, a social activist; social commentator; former Indian Police Service officer; tennis player and the current Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry , started her journey in politics in 2011 when she along with Arvind Kejriwal, Anna Hazare and many other activists formed India Against Corruption (IAC) group which developed into the popular Indian anti-corruption movement. Mrs Bedi is the first woman to join the Indian Police Service (IPS) and the first woman to be appointed the United Nations civilian police adviser. During her 35 year long career in bureaucracy, he has served in a number of key posts including Director General, Bureau of Police Research and Development; DCP of North Delhi; as head of training at the police academy; as the Joint Commissioner of Police of Delhi Police; as the Special Commissioner (Intelligence) of Delhi Police; as Inspector-General of Police in Chandigarh ; Director General, Home Guards; as the Director General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development and so on. She is the recipient of the President's Police Medal . During her stint in IPS, she was instrumental in decreasing crimes against women; launched a campaign against drug abuse and introduced several reforms at Tihar Jail, which fetched laurels to her in form of Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1994. Bedi got herself separated from IAC after formation of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2012. She entered BJP in 2015. She became Chief Ministerial candidate of BJP from Krishna Nagar constituency for the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections. However,she loses out to to AAP candidate SK Bagga by a margin of 2277 votes.

V K Singh

V K Singh, former Chief of Army Staff who later turned politician, is known to be controversy’s child for his candid opinions. Singh courted controversy when he said that only development and not the repeal of Article 370 is the major poll strength of BJP in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election. During his term as Army Chief, Singh drew controversy by giving the statement that he was offered Rs 14 crore bribe related to Tatra Truck procurement. Born on May 10, 1950, Singh has had his graduation from the Defence Services Staff College. Apart from the Defence Services Staff College, he attended United States Army Infantry School, Pennsylvania Carlisle’s United States Army War College, and Rangers course graduation from Fort Benning. V K Singh began his career as a military officer.

 

 

 

 

Later, he became the first ever commando (trained to carry out high altitude and counter insurgency operations) in the Indian Army to have attained promotion to the General rank. Singh participated in the 1971 India-Pakistan War and Operation Pawan. After completing his term in service, Singh joined BJP. He also one of the active participants in the anti-corruption campaign headed by Anna Hazare in New Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. Singh posted victory in UP’s Ghaziabad Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 with the second highest margin of 567,000 votes by defeating INC’s Raj Babbar. He has been Minister of State for External Affairs (took over charge on 26 May 2014); Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics and Programme Implementation (9 November 2014 - 5 July 2016);Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region ( 26 May 2014 - 9 November 2014); Member of Indian Parliament for Ghaziabad.

Hardeep Singh Puri

Hardeep Singh Puri (born 15 February 1952 in Delhi) is the current Union Minister of State with Independent Charge in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. He is a 1974 batch Indian Foreign Service officer. Born on15 February 1952 in Delhi, Puri studied Bachelor's and postgraduate study at Hindu College, University of Delhi, and worked as a lecturer at St. Stephen's College, Delhi. Puri has been given crucial important diplomatic assignments in Brazil, Japan, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom. He was posted the Coordinator of the UNDP/UNCTAD Multilateral Trade Negotiations Project (1988 -1991) to help Developing Countries in the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations. He also worked as the chairman of the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee ( Jan2011-Feb 2013) and as President of the United Nations Security Council from August 2011 to November 2012. Puri assumed charge as Senior Advisor of International Peace Institute on June 2013. Initially, he was posted as Chairman of United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee, Vice President of International Peace Institute and Secretary-General of Independent Commission on Multilateralism in New York. Puri became a Member of the Bharatiya Janata Party in January 2014, appreciating the party's approach to national security. Prior to his induction into the Union council of ministers, Puri was serving as the president and chairman of the Research and Information System for Developing Countries think tank. Hardeep has penned down a number of books, research papers and journals.

 

Meira Kumar

Meira Kumar, a lawyer and former 1973 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, took a plunge in politics by joining INC in 1985. She got elected on INC ticket from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh attaining victory over popular political figures like Ram Vilas Paswan and Mayawati. Her political career has seen a number of successes. She is a five-time Member of Parliament . She was the United Progressive Alliance nominee for President of India in the 2017 election. Apart from being elected earlier to the 8th, 11th, 12th and 14th Lok Sabh, She became the first woman Speaker of Lok Sabha (2009-2014). She was appointed as a Cabinet Minister in Congress led Government (2004–2009). Meira Kumar joined the Indian Foreign Service. Kumar worked at embassies in Spain, United Kingdom and Mauritius. Kumar left on 1985 to enter electoral politics.

R K Singh

Raj Kumar Singh, a former 1975 batch IAS officer, is the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Power, and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. With nearly forty years of experience in IAS, R K Singh joined the BJP in 2013 after his retirement from service. Known as a fearless bureaucrat, Singh has never been hesitant to call a spade a spade. Singh made the headlines when he was given the responsibility of apprehending BJP veteran L.K. Advani in Samastipur in Bihar when the leader was on his Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya, by the then Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. Singh studied English literature at St. Stephens College, Delhi, and got a Bachelors Degree in Law thereafter.

He has also studied at the RVB Delft University in the Netherlands. He was selected to the Indian Police Service, where he had served one year. Later, he entered IAS. He has served both in Bihar and at the Centre in various capacities, including as former Union home secretary from 2011 to 2013; as secretary defence production in the UPA government; as joint secretary in the Home Ministry, when Advani was the Home Minister; as head of the of departments of home, industries, public works in Bihar government and as district magistrate of Patna. When Nitish Kumar came to power in Bihar in 2005, Singh played an instrumental in improving the road network in the state while serving as principal secretary of road construction department. He played an vital role in the relief and rescue operation during the 2008 Kosi floods in Bihar following a breach in the Kusaha embankment while serving as principal secretary of the disaster management department. Singh joined the BJP on December 13, 2013 and contend the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Ara and won with a margin of over 1.35 lakh votes. Singh also contended in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll from Arrah. He is remembered for his contributions to schemes for modernisation of the police and prisons, and laying down a framework for disaster management.

Sanjeev Tripathi

Next name in this list is Sanjeev Tripathi, former chief of Research & Analysis Wing (RAW). Tripathi is the son-in-law of G.S. Bajpai, former Chief of RAW. Tripathi is the first spy chief in India to have entered politics. A 1973 batch Indian Police Service officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, he is a native of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh .Tripathi served as Chief of RAW between 2011 and 2012 under the Manmohan Singh government. Tripathi has worked on tracking of Sikh militants operating from abroad. He has also worked on tracking insurgency in the North-Eastern states of India and also on the sensitive Tibet issue. Before being appointed as RAW Chief, Sanjeev Tripathi headed Aviation Research Centre (ARC).

Mani Shankar Aiyar

Mani Shankar Aiyar, a retired 1963 batch Indian diplomat, took a plunge in politics by joining Indian National Congress party. Aiyar was a member of the Indian National Congress party till Dec, 2017. Most importantly, he served in the first Cabinet of UPA led government (2004–2009); served as the Union Minister of Panchayati Raj until he faced defeat in his seat in the 2009 election; became the Union Cabinet Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas (May 2004 -January 2006 ); had been in charge of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports till 2009; and appointed as first Minister of Development of North Eastern Region. A graduate in economics from Delhi University, and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, Aiyar has been a member of Trinity Hall and of the Marxist Society in Cambridge. Aiyar left the service in 1989 to pursue a career in politics. He became a member of the Parliament as a Congress MP from Mayiladuthurai in 1991, 1999 and 2004 but got defeated in 1996, 1998, 2009 and 2014. During his stint in Indian Foreign Service, has served as Joint Secretary in Government of India , as first consul-general of India in Karachi from 1978 to 1982. The diplomat turned politician has attracted controversy a lot of times from involving in a public brawl with politician Amar Singh in 2000 to saying that there was no difference between the radical right-wing revolutionary Veer Savarkar, a famous inmate of the prison, and Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan to calling PM Modi "lowly person". Being too much outspoken has cost him dearly as he was suspended from Congress on December last year. However, Congress has recently revoked the suspension order.

 

Nand Kishore Singh

Mr. N.K. Singh, a well-known economist, former top bureaucrat and the head of the 15th Finance Commission, has also taken a plunge in politics long ago. He is a senior member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Before joining BJP, he represented Bihar in the Rajya Sabha (2008-2014) on behalf of the Janata Dal (United) which he joined in 2008. Having held crucial positions in the government under many successive Prime Ministers like Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, VP Singh, Narasimha Rao and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Singh has embarked upon a long bureaucratic journey.He is one of the topmost bureaucrats of India who has served in many important positions such as India's Expenditure and Revenue Secretary, Member of the Planning Commission, Secretary to the Prime Minister. The author of “Politics of Change” and “Not by Reason Alone” had been assigned charge in the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs and the Committee on Local Area Development Scheme, the Public Accounts Committee, the Consultative Committee on Finance, the Parliamentary Forum on Global Warming and Climate Change, the Committee on Public Undertakings etc. With international experience in multilateral organizations like World Bank, IMF, ADB, UNCTAD, GATT, WTO, UNDP and OECD, Mr. Singh is also associated with the Governing bodies of research organisations such as Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), the International Management Institute (IMI) and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).

 

 

Dr Satya pal Singh

Satya Pal Singh, a 1980 batch Maharashtra cadre IPS officer, took everyone by surprise when applied for the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) to enter political bandwagon. He stepped down as Mumbai Police Chief on January, 2014 to contend in the fray of Lok Sabha elections. A BJP MP from Baghpat in western UP, Singh is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development and Minister of State in the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. A holder of MSc degree, Singh has studied MPhil in Chemistry from Delhi University, MBA in Strategic Management from Australia, an MA in Public administration. He also has had PhD on the naxalite movement. Singh has held several important posts in Maharashtra including Additional Director General of Police, Pune Police Commissioner, Police Commissioner of Nagpur etc. Singh is credited with weakening the backbone of organised crime syndicates that terrorised Mumbai in the 1990s. As Police Commissioner of Nagpur, he initiated an outreach programme called 'Mission Mrityunjay, an anti-terror initiative meant to enlist college students in the fight against terrorism. Singh courted controversy when he refused to grant clearance for renewal the passport of Maharashtra home minister Ramesh Bagwe, who had criminal cases pending against him. A sincere and honest bureaucrat, Singh was awarded with Antrik Suraksha Sewa Padak in 2008 for his extraordinary services in Naxal hit areas of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh during the troubled phase of the ’90s. He has received the President's Police Medal for distinguished service in 2004 and the President's Police Medal for meritorious service in 1996 and the DG's Insignia in the same year.

Bhagirath Prasad

 

Bhagirath Prasad, a retired 1975 batch IAS officer, entered politics by joining Congress. The former bureaucrat has served as Principal Secretary Education in MP government. He left the service taking voluntary retirement in 2007 and then served as vice-chancellor of Indore’s Devi Ahilya University for two years before joining politics. Having felt lack of vision and capacity in Congress, he left the party and joined Bharatiya Janata Party. He spent five years in Congress. An ardent admirer of Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Narendra Modi, he believes that BJP will leverage his abilities. Prasad represents the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Lok Sabha (lower house), for the Bhind Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh state

 

 

 

Yashwant Sinha

Yashwant Sinha had become Minister of Finance under Mr. Chandra Shekhar’s Ministry (Nov 1990-Jun 1991) and under the regime of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He also served as Foreign minister under the regime of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. A native of Patna, Bihar, Sinha has had Masters Degree in Political Science in 1958. In his 24 year long career, Sinha has served as Sub-Divisional Magistrate; District Magistrate; as Under Secretary and Deputy Secretary in the Finance Department of the Bihar Government ; as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India ; as First Secretary (Commercial) in the Indian Embassy, Bonn, Germany (1971-73) ; as Consul General of India in Frankfurt (1973-74) ; in Department of Industrial Infrastructure, Government of Bihar; in Ministry of Industry, Government of India; as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Surface Transport, Government of India (1980-84) and so on. Hence, Yashwant Sinha gained immense experience on a wide gamut of matters from foreign industrial collaborations to intellectual property rights; foreign trade; technology imports to India’s external relations with the European Economic Community. Sinha left the elite service in 1984. He entered politics by joining Janata Party. He became All-India General Secretary of Janata Party in 1986. From 1988 onwards, his career in politics gained momentum. The veteran leader got elected as Member of the Rajya Sabha in 1988. He became the National Spokesperson of the BJP on June, 1996. He left the BJP on April 2018. Sinha was awarded Officier de la Légion d’Honneur, the highest civilian distinction of France in 2015.The seasoned has politician received flak quite a few times for criticising. Modi government's economic policies and style of functioning openly. The veteran politician will be remembered in Indian politics for his significant contribution in many international negotiations on behalf of the country and in several political and social delegations led by him.

Ajit Jogi

Ajit Jogi , among all the bureaucrats , have enjoyed the most vibrant career in politics. He was the first CM of newly formed state of India, i.e, Chhattisgarh. A gold medalist in Mechanical Engineering from the Maulana Azad College of Technology of Bhopal, he was chosen for the Indian Police Service and Indian Administrative Service after having worked briefly as a lecturer at the Government Engineering College, Raipur. Jogi holds All India record of being the longest serving Collector/District Magistrate for 12 years at the districts of Shahdol, Sidhi, Indore and Raipur of Madhya Pradesh from 1974 to 1986. Jogi resigned from IAS so that he could join politics. He became a member of INC political party. Jogi has always been seen to keep himself associated himself with welfare and development of the backward and underprivileged sections of society, such as the minorities, the backward classes, the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the leprosy patients, and the handicapped. He has been Member of the Rajya Sabha twice. Jogi formed Indian National Congress (INC) after he and his son removed from Indian National Congress on account of anti-party activities and disrupting Antagarh by polls elections. He will not contend in the upcoming Chhattisgarh assembly election 2018. His illustrious career in politics includes such positions as: General Secretary of Pradesh Congress Committee as a member from Madhya Pradesh; Member of Committee on Public Undertakings; Member of Committee on Industries; Member of Committee on Railways;Chairman of the State Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Commission of Madhya Pradesh; Member on Transport and Tourism. Committee; Member on Rural and Urban Development. Member in the panel of Vice-Chairperson in Rajya Sabha; Chairman of Science and Technology Committee and Environment and Forests Committee during 1995-96 ; Member of AICC Core Group for Parliamentary Elections in Lok Sabha in 1996vand so on.

Jayaprakash Narayan

Nagabhairava Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly known as the founder and president of Lok Satta Party, left IAS in 1996 for removal of faulty governance and to bring transformation in society. He is an former Member of the Legislative Assembly from Kukatpally constituency Andhra Pradesh in India. Narayan contested from Malkajgiri as a Member of Parliament on May 2014. An eloquent leader and columnist, he began the ‘Lok satta Movement’ in 1996 to make citizens of India conscious about voting rights and responsibilities of government. A native of Andhra Pradesh, his 16-year-long successful bureaucratic career has had a number of achievements in agriculture, irrigation, technology and youth Rehabilitation projects in Andhra Pradesh such as creation of full and permanent employment for 8,000 youth from displaced families of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant; leading the reconstruction of drainage and irrigation network in Krishna, Prakasam and Godavari deltas; mobilization of farmers on a large scale to take up irrigation schemes etc.During his service, Narayan has served as a Secretary to both the Governor Krishna Kant and the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N.T. Rama Rao. His successful policy initiatives include speedy justice through rural courts ; development of the Infocity HITEC City (Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy City) in Hyderabad etc.

 

Alphons Kannanthanam

Alphons Joseph Kannanthanam, advocate, politician and former Indian civil servant. is the present Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Culture, and Tourism. Kannanthanam is the second BJP Central Minister from Kerala after O. Rajagopal.  Kannanthanam shot to fame when he attained 100 percent literacy rate in Kottayam town during his stint as District collector. He was termed as the ‘Demolition Man’, while serving in Delhi Development Authority. He is known to have reclaimed over 10,000 crores by annihilating illegal buildings in Delhi alone. He left IAS in 2006 after serving for over 26 years. He registered his victory on the seat in Kerala assembly election under the Communist Party.

 

Jesudasu Seelam

Jesudasu Seelam is also one of those bureaucrats who have left their stable career to enter political bandwagon. Seelam had joined Indian Audit & Accounts Service in 1981 and served till 1983. Then he joined Indian Police Service in 1983 and in 1984 he entered Indian Administrative Service. During his stint as an IAS officer, he served as district magistrate of Mandya district of Karnataka; Private Secretary to Railway Minister CK Jaffer Sharief. Seelam had left IAS to contend in Lok Sabha polls in 1999. Seelam confronted obstacles in his initial political journey. The former bureaucrat contended the Lok Sabha election as a candidate of Congress from Bapatla constituency in Andhra Pradesh he lost the battle. He also had to struggle in the state politics before obtaining  a nomination to Rajya Sabha in 2004. He was assigned charge charge as Minister of state for finance in 2013 when P Chidambaram was the finance minister. Seelam got Elected two times as Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha - June 2004 & June 2010. He worked as Member, Standing Committee on Energy, Information & Technology, Coal & Steel, Chemicals & Fertilizers, Consultative Committee for Social Justice Ministry, Parliamentary Committee on SC/ST welfare, Business Advisory Committee of Rajya Sabha, Parliamentary Forum on Population & Public Health, IPU Global Advisory Group on HIV/AIDS etc.

Dr Amar Singh

Dr Amar Singh, a former senior IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, is now a member of Congress. A son of a poor family from Boparai Kalan, Punjab, Dr Amar Singh has come a long a way -from making it to MBBS, becoming a practising doctor to joining IAS to entering politics by the power of his dedication and persistence. With a vision to make progressive changes in the medical system, Singh joined politics He was known to be the most likeable officers of the Badal regime and served in a number of important positions including chief executive officer (CEO) of Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) and secretary, NRI affairs. Apart from this posts, Dr Singh had also assigned charge as Joint Secretary, Rural Development, Government of India, New Delhi;as Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Maharashtra for a long time before moving to Delhi etc.

 

 

Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal is perhaps the most popular among all the bureaucrats who has turned politicians. The current and 7th Chief Minister of Delhi, Kejriwal continue to be controversy’s child. A former 1995 batch IRS officer, Kejriwal shot to fame with the formation of India Against Corruption (IAC) group which demanded enactment of the Jan Lokpal Bill.Arvind Kejriwal has had graduation in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, In 1989, he joined Tata Steel and left the company in 1992 for Civil Services Examination. In 1995, Kejriwal joined the IRS as an Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax. During his stint in Indian Revenue Service, Kejriwal has worked as a Joint Commissioner of the Income Tax Department in New Delhi. He left service in 2006.

Without resigning from the service, Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and others found a movement named Parivartan on December 1999. Kejriwal took a sabbatical leave on January 2000 from work to pay attention to Parivartan which ran on individual donations. Parivartan was meant to address citizens' grievances related to Public Distribution System (PDS), public works, social welfare schemes, income tax and electricity. In 2005, Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia formed a registered NGO, namely, Kabir. Parivartan got a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in 2000, stating a demand for transparency in public dealings of the Income Tax department. With the Delhi government enactment of state-level Right To Information (RTI) Act by the Delhi government enactment in 2001, Parivartan started making use of RTI to assist people n getting their work done in government departments without havng to cough up a bribe.Kejriwal along with other social activists like Anna Hazare, Aruna Roy and Shekhar Singh was regarded as an important contributor in the national-level campaign for Right to Information Act .

 

In 2011, Kejriwal along with a number of other activists such as Anna Hazare and Kiran Bedi formed the India Against Corruption (IAC) group which demanded enactment of the Jan Lokpal Bill. The campaign developed into the  Indian anti-corruption movement of 2011. Responding to movement, the government's advisory body - the National Advisory Council – has had a draft of Lokpal Bill. However, Kejriwal and other activists censured the NAC's Bill saying that it is not capable to take action against the prime minister, other corrupt officeholders and the judiciary. The activists also questioned the procedure for selection of Lokpal, the transparency clauses and the proposal to disallow the Lokpal from taking cognisance of public grievances. In a bid to show the protest Anna Hazare held a hunger strike while Kejriwal and other activists were taken into custody for not obeying to a police directive Besides the government.

 

The Jan Lokpal movement faced the criticism of being 'undemocratic'. Finally, Kejriwal and other activists  resolved to join politics and contest elections. Formally, they launched the Aam Aadmi Party on November 2012. Kejriwal got elected as the party's National Convener. AAP resolved to enter the fray of the Delhi Legislative Assembly election, 2013, with Kejriwal contending against the then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Sheila Dikshit lost the election to Kejriwal in her constituency of New Delhi by a margin of 25,864 votes. AAP had had formation of a minority government in the hung assembly with outside support from the eight INC MLAs, one Janata Dal MLA and one independent MLA. Kejriwal became the second-youngest chief minister of Delhi on 28 December 2013, after Chaudhary Brahm Prakash. Kejriwal stepped down as Chief Minister upon failing to propose the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Delhi Assembly on 14 February 2014. Kejriwal decided to contend against the BJP prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, from Varanasi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. However, he faced defeat by a margin of around 370,000 votes. In the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections, Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party won 67 of the 70 constituencies.

Of late, AAP has courted controversy owing to the long-running dispute between Kejriwal's office and that of the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi during Kejriwal's second term as Chief Minister. He has also been at the receiving end of criticism when he made tweet that India was getting isolated in the wake of Indian government's move of isolating Pakistan on international fora, after the Uri Attack in September 2016. He also released a video on October 2016 wherein he was seen to be asking the Prime Minister of India to give proof for Surgical Strikes on Pakistan in response to Uri Attack.

In 2006,Kejriwal was conferred with the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership, for his activities with Parivartan.

 

Panna Lal Punia

Panna Lal Punia, who is popular for his accessibility and popularity across political spectrum, is a Member of the Rajya Sabha of Indian National Congress party from Uttar Pradesh since 2014. The former bureaucrat works as Dalit leader of the Indian National Congress party. Punia turned to politics by joining Congress nearly 5-6 months after his retirement in 2005. A former 1970 batch IAS officer of UP cadre, Punia fought the 2007 Assembly election from Fatehpur in Barabanki district. However, he got defeated to BSP's Meeta Gautam. Punia served as member of the Lok Sabha from 2009 to 2014, representing Lok Sabha constituency Barabanki. Punia shot to fame in 1993 when Mulayam Singh Yadav, took over as chief minister of the SP-BSP alliance government. Mayawati appointed Punia her principal secretary when she was sworn in as CM in 1995. Punia had been working with Mayawati when she became the CM in 1997 and 2002. He has served as chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes between 2013-16 and as ex officio member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

Koppula Raju

Koppula Raju, former1981-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, is known to be as a very close to Rahul Gandhi. Raju’s political career has now taken a crucial turn as Rahul Gandhi has chosen him as the new head of his core team.The 61-year-old bureaucrat took voluntary retirement in 2013 and got a lateral entry into the AICC. During his term in Indian bureaucracy, Raju had served in various capacities in Andhra Pradesh including as principal secretary in the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s office. In post-YSR Andhra Pradesh, Raju became an important bureaucrat. A holder of MPhil in economic management and policy, and MBA from the Australian University of Curtin, Raju has served as secretary of NAC which was responsible for preparing the drafts of key legislative initiatives such as the Right to Information Act, Right to Education Act, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employee Guarantee Act and the Food Security bill. Raju is expected to play a major role in swinging Dalit votes in favour of the Congress.

R S Pandey

R S Pandey , a former Chief Secretary, Government of Nagaland and 1972 batch Indian Administrative Service officer of Nagaland Cadre, is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party since December 2013. He is also a special invitee member of the BJP National Executive. Born on 15 January 1950 in Champaran district of Bihar, Pandey has had a brilliant academic career and topped in several university examinations. During his 38 year long career in bureaucracy, Pandey has held many important positions as Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs; Secretary, Ministry of Steel; Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in Government of India; Chief Secretary, Government of Nagaland and so on. After superannuation on Jan,2010, Pandey was designated as the Interlocutor and Government of India Representative for Naga Peace Talks on February 2010 by GoI. The bureaucrat turned politician got elected as Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of BJP from the Bagaha assemble constituency in West Champaran district in Bihar on November, 2015.

Arup Patnaik

The political journey of Arup Patnaik, former Mumbai police chief and , took off when he entered BJD of Naveen Patnaik on April this year . One of the most dynamic and revered IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre, Arup had held many important positions in the Maharashtra police department. In his 36-year- long career, he served as Addl. Director General of Police (Traffic); Deputy Commissioner of Police; Suptd. of Police; as head of the Bank Security & Fraud Cell of the CBI etc. He has had a huge contribution in devising the Arms & Ammunition policy for the State of Maharashtra. He had rightly won laurels for his performance in the notorous Lokhandwalla shootout and dealing with the communal riots in Mumbai during 1992-93 had brought him accolades from several quarters. He was also assigned charge as an investigating officer in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. A former 1979-batch IPS officer, Arup Patnaik is the recipient of the President’s police medal for his distinguished service, police medal for meritorious service. After his retirement from the service in 2015, Patnaik has continued to be in touch with several philanthropic and non-profit organisations. At present, Arup Patnaik is the Chairman of Odisha's State Youth Welfare Board, the Biju Yuva Vahini and has been accorded the rank and status of Minister of State by the Odisha State Government.

 Yudhvir Singh Khyalia

Yudhvir Singh Khyalia , a Haryana cadre bureaucrat, saw the beginning of his political career when AAP gave him Lok Sabha ticket for the Hisar seat in 2014. Taking voluntary retirement, Khyalia joined politics to respond to his inner calling. He stood in the poll fray against Haryana Janhit Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi. During his stint as IAS officer, Khyalia allowed land consolidation in two Haryana villages that were prevented by Dr Ashok Khemka.

Christy Fernandez

Christy Fernandez, former 1973 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, joined Left Democratic Front (LDF) to initiate his journey in politics. He was nominated as party candidate of Left Democratic Front (LDF) from the Ernakulam constituency of Kerala in Lok Sabha election 2014. A native of Clappana in Kollam district, Fernandez joined Indian Administrative Service in 2014. He is popular for being the former secretary to former President Prathibha Patil. During his stint in bureaucracy, Fernandez has served in various capacities in both centre and state such as joint secretary in the Agriculture and Petroleum ministries; additional secretary in the Commerce ministry; principal secretary of the Gujarat Town Development Council and was Secretary to the Department of Tourism etc.

P K Jain

P K Jain, former Senior IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre, is now a Member of the Republican Party of India-A in Mumbai. Jain became the talk of the town in 2014 when he resigned from the service just seven days before his completion of his service term accusing the state government of mishandling scams and of injustice done to senior IPS officers in respect of postings, promotions and transfers. A1981batch of IPS officer, Jain has held such positions as ADG (special operations); secretary post of the Maharashtra State IPS Officers' Association; principal secretary (home) post, joint commissioner of police (administration) post of Mumbai, Managing Director post of the Maharashtra State Security Corporation, and ADG (special operations) post. The former bureaucrat has brought bullet proof jacket scam and belt scam in the Maharashtra police to light, fighting within the force and government to expose these scams. 

Debabrata Kantha

Debabrata Kantha, former Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer a native of Orissa, left the elite service on Jan, 2008 as he immensely got encouraged by the ideology of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi. A 1987 batch IAS officer, Kantha joined IAS at age of 21. However, he had to cough up Rs. 20.60 lakh to the government to quit the service as he had participated in training programme at Maxwall School, New York at government’s expense and he was scheduled to serve till 2010. With a longing to contend in the 2009 assembly elections from his home district of Jajpur, Kantha resigned the service then get back to Orissa and joined the Congress.

 

Radhakant Nayak

 

Radhakant Nayak, a former 1962 batch IAS officer, has started his political journey with the Indian National Congress party. Nayak is a Member of the Parliament of India representing Orissa in the Rajya Sabha. During his stint in IAS, Radhakant Nayak has held many key positions such as Secretary of the Inter-State Council Secretariat in the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi From 1996-97; as Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development within the Department of Rural Employment and Poverty Alleviation from 1994-95; as managing director of the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development from 1993-94 and many other a variety of roles with the Government of Orissa in Bhubaneswar including Special Secretary to the Government Administration Department. In addition, he has worked in a variety of academic positions in India and abroad including as Vice-President of the All India Political Science Association in Chennai, Chairman of Utkal University Board of Studies, Social Work, in Bhubaneswar as Visiting Professor at the University of Georgia in Athens, Department of Anthropology, and as Guest Speaker at the University of Louisiana and Columbia University in New York etc.

Pavan K. Varma

Pavan K. Varma, a former 1976 batch foreign service officer, is now a National General Secretary and National Spokesman of the Janata Dal (United). Varma worked as a culture adviser to the Chief Minister of Bihar after his retirement from the Foreign Service on January, 2013. During his stint as a diplomat, Verma served in a number of key positions such as Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Group of 77; as the Director of the Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre in the Indian Embassy in Moscow; as High Commissioner of India to Cyprus; as spokesperson for the ministry of external affairs and press secretary to Presidents R. Venkataraman and Shankar Dayal Sharma; as Joint Secretary for Africa and Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi; as the Ambassador of India to Bhutan etc. A graduate of St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi, Verma has penned down several books including two bestsellers: The Great Indian Middle Class and Being Indian: The Truth About Why the 21st Century Will Be India’s.

Dr Udit Raj

Dr Udit Raj, a former1988 batch Indian Revenue Service officer, is not only a prominent politician but also a social activist for the underprivileged section of society i.e, SC/ST. At present, Udit Raj is a Lok Sabha MP of BJP from the North-west Delhi constituency and a member to the BJP National Executive He is also serving as chairman of the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations. A native of Ramnagar, Uttar Pradesh, he entered BJP in 2014. He contended Lok Sabha elections and defeated Rakhi Birla of AAP from Delhi North West constituency. During his stint in Indian Revenue Service, Dr Udit Raj has served as Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax and left the department in 2003 as Additional Commissioner of Income Tax and dedicated life to the welfare of the downtroden sections of the society. Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, Ghaziabad (1989 – 2001); as Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Delhi( 2001 – 2001); Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, Delhi(2001 – 2001); as Member, National Integration Council, M/O Home Affairs, Govt. of India; Member, National Monitoring Committee of Education of SC/ST &PWD, M/o HRD, Govt. of India etc. After winning in Lok Sabha election 2014, he has been made Member of Rules Committee; Member, Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment

Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs; Member, Joint Committee on the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015.

Nikhil Kumar

Nikhil Kumar, former Governor of Nagaland (2009-2013) and Kerala (2013 -2014), started his journey in politics with Indian National Congress (INC) party. A1963 batch IPS officer, Nikhil Kumar became member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India from the Aurangabad constituency in Bihar. During his illustrious career in bureaucracy, he held many important positions such as Additional Director General, Border Security Force (BSF) (1989–91;1992–94): Commissioner of Police,Delhi 1995-97.In 1997-99; Special Secretary with charge of Internal Security at the Home Ministry; as the Director-General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) & National Security Guards (NSG), and so on. Nikhil Kumar also served as Member, National Security Advisory Board, GoI (2001–03). He is the recipient of the Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service .

Harish Chandra Meena

Harish Chandra Meena, who holds the record of being the longest serving DGP in Rajasthan (2009-2013), turned to politics in 2014 when he entered Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). At present, he is the Member of Parliament from Dausa, Rajasthan constituency. A native of Bamanwas, Sawai Madhopur of Rajasthan, Meena joined Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1976. He had studied Masters in Political Science in Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi). Initially, he was posted in Kharagpur, West Bengal Cadre for 3 years. Later, he was shifted to Rajasthan. During his stint in bureaucracy, he has served as Superintendent of Police (1981-1991); Dy. Inspector General of Police (1991-1997); Inspector General of Police (1997-2003); Additional Director General of Police (2003-2007); Director General of Police (2007-2013) ; Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India (2013-2014). During his term in Lok Sabha, Harish Chandra Meena has been Member, Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture; Member, Consultative Committee on Skill Development; Member, Committee on Security in Parliament Complex; Member, Lok Sabha Fellowship Committee; Ex-Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment; Ex-Member, Standing Committee on Home Affairs. During service, Harish Meena has brought reforms in the recruitment process of Police Constables in Rajasthan trying to eradicate corruption and biases and transforming it into more objective and transparent one. He paid attention on improving the track record of Rajasthan police in matters related to human rights. He is credited with passing a standing order that clarifies that the whole police station would be accountable to face a punishment posting if any case of death or suicide in the custody comes to light. Under his regime, a new post for Addl. Director General came into existence to administer a cell meant for tracking crimes against the vulnerable sections of the society which included schedule tribes, schedule castes, women and children.

He is also known to have established three independent institutions: Police University (Sardar Patel Police University 2012), Training Institute for Rajasthan Police Intelligence Branch and Commando Training Institute. Village Guard System was introduced in rural area. Meena gives priority to education in respect of constituency development. Over 70% of his local area development fund flows in area of education. His earnest endeavour has resulted in establishment of two central schools and a Rural Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra . He has also introduced his own flagship program for girl child development. The former IPS officer has been conferred with the Indian Police Medal in 1996 and the President’s Medal for his distinguished service in 2002.

Namo Narain Meena

Namo Narain Meena, a former1969 batch Indian Police Service officer of Rajasthan cadre, turned to politics in 2004 when he joined Indian National Congress party. Meena was fielded by Congress in the Lok Sabha elections for Sawai Madhopur (ST) seat against then Union Minister Jaskaur Meena (BJP).He has had quite a successful career in politics so far. He got elected to 14th Lok Sabha from Sawai Madhopur constituency in Rajasthan as a candidate of Indian National Congress party. He was appointed in Indian Government as Union Minister of State in Ministry of Environment and Forests( 2004–2009). He was appointed as Union Minister of State(EB&I) in Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India, after winning again on Member of Parliament seat from Sawai Madhopur constituency. During his stint in Indian Police Service, Namo Narayan Meena has served in various positions such as Asstt. Superintendent of Police, Superintendent of Police, D.I.G. of Police, I.G. of Police, Member , State Human Rights Commission, Jaipur. The former IPS officer completed his service term as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)in 2003. Meena Soon after he was appointed as Member to the Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission . Meena, who has had M.A. in Geography from M.B College of Rajasthan, is the recipient of Presidential Police Medal and President`s Distinguished Service Medal.

 

 

 

Suresh Abaji Khopade

Suresh Abaji Khopade, former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer , tried his career in Politics in 2014 when Aam Aadmi Party has fielded him from Baramati against NCP leader Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule, a the sitting MP. Suresh Khopade joined the Maharashtra Police Force in the year 1978 through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission. Khopade started her career in bureaucracy as the Deputy Superintendent of Police in Bhiwandi.  He completes his service term as Special Inspector General of CID Pune Police. He shot to fame for safeguarding then hyper-sensitive town Bhiwandi during the 1992 communal Riots and pioneering community policing initiatives in Maharashtra. He has penned down a number of books on initiatives he implemented during his service. Khopade criticized Anna Hazare's demand for empowerment of Lokpal emphasizing that it is the outdated bureaucracy that is responsible for corruption and its growth.

 

Dr Ajoy Kumar

Dr Ajoy Kumar, a former 1986 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, is the President of Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee. He got elected as the MP (Member of Parliament) in the 15th Lok Sabha, from the Jamshedpur Lok Sabha constituency. He became a part of Indian National Congress on August 23, 2014. He was made Spokesperson for the Congress party on September 26, 2014. Kumar has served in Jamshedpur between 1986 and1996. Kumar was posted as SP from the year 1994 to 1996. Later , he quitted the police service and assumed charge as a senior executive of Tata Motors . He was termed as an encounter specialist because of his success in deceasing the crime rate in Jamshedpur.

Vishnu Dayal Ram

Vishnu Dayal Ram, a former DGP of Jharkhand Police, took a plunge in politics by joining Bharatiya Janata Party. At present, he is a Member of Joint Parliamentary Committee on Security in Parliament House Complex. A former 1973 batch IPS officer, he has become DGP of Jharkhand two times. During his service, he has also been assigned charge as SP of Bhagalpur and SSP of Patna. He got elected to the 16the Lok Sabha from Palamu constituency. He has been Member of Standing Committee on External Affairs; Member of Standing Committee on Water Resources.

 

 

K.P. Ramaiah

K.P. Ramaiah , a former 1986 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre, joined politics in 2014 . A native of Andhra Pradesh, Ramaiah studied postgraduatation in political science at Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati. As a civil servant, he served as District Magistrate of Patna and Divisional commissioner of Patna and Tirhut ; as Principal Secretary of the SC & ST Department. He led the famous “Mahadalit commission” created by Nitish Kumar for welfare of poorest among poorest Dalit castes minus Paswan caste.With top priority for the development of the SC/ST people, he joined JD(U). In the 2014 general election ,Ramaiah was fielded as the candidate of the JD(U) in the  the Sasaram Lok Sabha constituency.