Intriguing boast
Embers of frustration simmering in the ministers have now started exploding off and on, leaving the Chief Minister Harish Rawat vulnerable to political shenanigans. Some of them are now using media to flaunt their superiority. Finance minister Indira Hridayesh seems to be leading the show. Things ripening behind the screen for long turned palpable at the recently held special Assembly session at Gairsain. After the House was adjourned sine die following the slugfest, chief minister said that he had not come across such unruly scene in his political career spanning 25 years.
Hridayesh promptly pitched in, saying that hers spanned 40 years, a boast that left CM flabbergasted. However, this was not the first time she embarrassed CM. A few days ago, she asked CM to refrain from announcing up-gradation of schools and college and focus instead on execution of the previously announced projects.
Political analysts say such statements come in two situations-when the ministers realise that CM’s stock is plummeting and when they fear being axed. Things are still mired in speculative murkiness. However, tongues are wagging. It is said the party MlAs are scouting the water before taking the plunge or say, jumping the ship.
Ex-‘tension’
Extension and tension swapping places in Uttarakhand’s bustling Babudom, things look amusing. It is now public knowledge how the former chief secretary Rakesh Sharma was left guessing over his three months’ extension till October 31-the last day of his career as an IAS- with Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) keeping a stony silence. DoPT choosing to keep things mired in enigmatic silence, the chief minister acted finally by favouring the redoubtable Babu with the coveted reappointment though with a rider that he would cease to be an IAS.
For Sharma’s case, tension gave way to extension though robbed of the glitter of the IAS tag. But for another battle-hardened Babu, who was also an IAS, things have proved otherwise. He was given the extension at the instance of his ‘boss’. He accepted it albeit with a long face. Swamped under work pressure, he is heard likening his extension to renewal of tension for the next one year.
Sulky and Secure
The recent reappointment of former chief secretary Rakesh Sharma as the chief principal secretary (CPS) to chief minister has left the MlAs- deemed close to the CM- sulky while leaving the officials manning the chief minister’s office secure. There are reasons for these varied feelings. The MlAs are inclined to bare their ‘democratic’ fangs to the CMO to bully them into submission. Well- acquainted with the ‘democratic’ demeanor of the MlAs, Sharma, soon on assuming charge, shunted two principal secretaries to CM - Manisha Panwar and Ompraksh- and brought two young officers- R Meenakshisundarm and Shailesh Bagauli- as secretary in-charges to the CM.
Most of the legislatures scouting for government lands, they would have to encounter the duo, a prospect which has left them both sullen and alert. They seem to be now calculating things, hoping that the CMO would not hinder their avarice for grabbing Government lands with the election drawing close.