GRAPEVINE

Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikander, Babu

As expected, the Samrat Choudhury Government in Bihar carried out a major bureaucratic reshuffle. It transferred 11 IAS and 16 IPS officers. Even before the entire cabinet was sworn in, hectic lobbying had begun for plum postings. A few were eyeing the Resident Commissioner post in Delhi. The winner in the race was the 2009 batch IAS Manoj Kumar Singh. However, grapevine had it that Santosh Kumar Mall (1997 batch) was also looking for a change in Delhi. He was fortunate to be considered for an additional assignment and was successful to be attached to Bihar Bhawan as OSD, besides his regular appointment as principal secretary of the disaster management department, Bihar. Mall had an eventful stint in Delhi, first as Private Secretary to former Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh, and then as the longest serving Commissioner at Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghathan.

Young IAS propose nightlife in Kerala

A Facebook post by 2022 batch IAS Dilip K Kainikkara, currently serving as Tirur Sub-Collector in Kerala, has triggered widespread discussion on social media, drawing both support and criticism, even before a new Congress led UDF Government takes over. The young IAS officer has proposed a series of long-term reforms, such as raising the retirement age, promoting nightlife. Kainikkara also urged a review of the unconditional all-pass policy in schools to ensure that students achieve basic educational competencies. In his post he suggested the newly elected Government had a rare opportunity to undertake long-term reforms that may face initial resistance but would ultimately benefit society. He further suggested limiting Malayalam-medium education largely to the lower primary level while gradually transitioning upper primary, high school and higher secondary education to English-medium instruction. Such a shift, he argued, would help prevent new social inequalities linked to language and access to education.

Growing clout of lottery king

Lottery King Santiago Martin’s clout is growing in South India. His son-in-law Aaadhav Arjuna is a minister in new TVK Government in Tamil Nadu. Martin’s wife Leema Rose is AIADMK MLA and working like treasurer of the party. His son Jose Charles Martin floated a new outfit and won as MLA in Puducherry and part of NDA. Martin had already paid Rs 500 crore to DMK as per declaration of electoral bonds. Martin is so friendly with all parties in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana also. Latest heard is that Tamil Nadu is expected to change its lottery policy by allowing private players. In Kerala, Communist Party was embroiled controversy for accepting money from Martin for their newspaper.