Will Babu return
Against the backdrop of a retired Babu- once considered a blue- eyed boy of those who wielded power- making frantic attempt to return to the Babudom with a bang, some Babus, hostile to their former colleague, are citing the recent address of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking his party MPs from Uttar Pradesh not to favour any official regarding posting or transfer. Besides, the retired Babu being mired in graft charges during his stint in the Babudom, the Babus are sure that he stands no chance of returning with the PM sounding ruthless regarding the corruption-tainted officials. However, if sources privy to the functioning of the present regime are to be believed the prospect of the retired Babu’s return is bright, given his efficiency in running the Babudom. Curious eyes are trained on what would happen-whether the state government would act as stickler for the Modi-envisaged norms or would go after efficiency, giving it precedence over other considerations. However, things would turn tricky with at least two senior IAS officers having privately threatened to quit in case the retired Babu returns.
Would impatience win
The crucial process of portfolio allotment among the ministers sworn in along the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on March 18 hanging fire for days is deepening worry in the state saffron camp. Things are more so with the council of ministers containing two of the nine ‘turncoat’ Congress leaders who later switched their loyalty to BJP. Maybe, the CM is scratching his head over the portfolios to be given to the two while keeping the saffron old horses, in the ministry, in good humour. However, the inordinate delay in portfolio allocation has led one of the two convening meetings with the officers of different departments, sans any official mandate to do so. Soon after the CM had referred to the possible opening of Kandi Road, cutting through the reserve forest areas, during his maiden press conference following the swearing-in, the minister convened a meeting with the officers and asked them to find a way-out. The spectacle of the minister going out of his way to assert before being provided with portfolio is leaving other ministers impatient. Opinions are divided on the matter of the minister showing ‘unauthorized’ haste with a majority choosing to side with the minister, saying that an enterprising spirit always wins the day.