A secret officer is someone who wouldn’t reveal his designation. Usually, political officials will tell you their post before their name. Let me tell you an opposite case. Office bearers of the BJP’s many fronts—Yuva Morcha, Mahila Morcha, Minority Morcha, etc.—boast about their designation without missing a beat. But the incharge of Mahila Morcha won’t make that mistake. BJP gives such posts to general secretaries and one of them is leading the Mahila Morcha. And this general secretary is a man. That’s why he is keeping it a secret.
Consequences
A senior leader of the BJP, who has been a member of the Legislative Council several times, is blunt with his responses. He is fully devoted to his party and knows the consequences being candid. He censors himself when talking about the party, not because he would bear the brunt of it but because his juniors, especially the young ones, would get influenced and could get themselves in trouble.
Impact of election results
Members of other parties in election-bound states are yet to join BJP. Is it because of the Karnataka election result? BJP members are a bit apprehensive about it. There was already a dearth of people joining the party. And by the time election dates were announced, a people en masse had joined Congress. A former general secretary of the BJP said that if such is the impact of results, the party will have to think about it.
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Adipurush flops
Bollywood film Adipurush is being criticised from all fronts. More or less, every political party has condemned it. So, it has proved to be a flop film for BJP. Since it had supported the films Kashmir Files and Kerala Story, both were a hit for the party.
BJP and Yugpurush
One BJP leader says that the Adipurush was bound to flop for the party. And the reason is simple. There is an age limit of 75 for BJP members. After that, they become Adipurush. Those who have the guts to become a Yugpurush (man of the era) stay with the party even after 75.
CBI or ED?
A BJP functionary could not understand that in Tamil Nadu, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested a minister. In retaliation, Chief Minister MK Stalin banned the CBI in the state. The BJP officer was confused about why CBI took a hit when the matter is between the state government and ED? After much effort, things became clear to him. By the way, it is said that the officer is knowledgeable about economic matters.
‘Syndicate’ or ‘indicate’?
Often there is no direct connection between bureaucracy and politics. But two categories of bureaucrats do exist: ‘indicate’ and ‘syndicate’. ‘Syndicate’ consists of officers who hold more than two departments, and whom the government considers as ‘qualified’ officers. While ‘indicate’ category has those who are unable to deliver as per the expectation of the government. The ‘syndicate’ is headed by additional chief secretary level officers, whose influence is felt up to the DM office. Now a ‘syndicate’ officer in the UP government is about to retire and holds three portfolios. Hunt for his replacement is on. Unsurprisingly, those within the ‘indicate’ category are on the sidelines, holding lesser important departments. Among them, there are a few who once belonged to the ‘syndicate’ category and even enjoyed the trust of previous CMs — Explains why they lie in the ‘indicate’ category today.
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Congress needs 70 people
Recruitments or fresh appointments are in full swing for the upper leadership in Congress. Now when a leader who has been given charge of Delhi and Haryana said he will have to show some miracle, a senior questioned him on his Madhya Pradesh performance—no miracles there? The new in-charge promptly said he will lead a team of 70 people from his locality to these states, so that he can hand over information to the high command like an intelligence team does. The senior retorted: do you even have 70 people for this work? By the way, in Congress, every in-charge general secretary is looking for 70 people. Some are also interested in knowing who these people will be. Will people outside the party also walk?
Collateral damage
Last week, a renowned builder in the country came under the grip of ED. His connections run deep so he already knew about the inquiry. So, he started visiting influential people, gave huge advertisements in magazines and sponsored programmes. Quotations from ancient scriptures were also printed in the advertisements. But it didn’t work out. On the contrary, a judge got involved in this affair. What do they say? Collateral damage?
Bharat Agrawal is Executive Director, Dainik Bhaskar Group, and a columnist.
By special arrangement with Dainik Bhaskar, edited by Ratan Priya.