Ex-Karnataka IAS officer Sasikanth Senthil, who quit service in 2019, joins TN Congress today

Since his resignation last year, former IAS officer Sasikanth Senthil has participated in many anti-government protests, including those against NRC-CAA.

A file photo of former IAS officer Sasikanth Senthil | Photo: Sasikanth Senthil/Facebook

Bengaluru: Three months after K. Annamalai, a former Karnataka-cadre IPS officer, joined the BJP in Tamil Nadu, a former Karnataka-cadre IAS officer has now decided to join politics in the neighbouring state that is going to elections next year.

Sasikanth Senthil, the IAS officer who resigned on 6 September 2019 citing “disillusionment with the state of democracy in the country”, and has since participated in protests against the government over the Citizenship Amendment Act and other issues, is joining the Tamil Nadu Congress Monday.

Speaking to ThePrint, Senthil said he is taking the political plunge as he feels “it is the time is right to push for a political solution and bring like-minded people together on one platform.”

Announcing his decision, he posted on Twitter: “I have been an activist trying to be a voice for the less privileged all through my life, wherever I was and would continue the same…”

I would like to inform all that I have decided to join the Congress party in my effort to continue the fight. I have been an activist trying to be a voice for the less privileged all through my life, wherever I was and would continue the same until my last breath. pic.twitter.com/na3fMn4ueM

— sashikanth senthil (@s_kanth) November 8, 2020

Asked why he chose the Congress, the former IAS officer told ThePrint the party is the “right platform” for him from which he can operate and make a difference.

“I will not be that typical MLA or MP that you see. I plan to work differently and help in structuring and organising the party while popularising the Congress values and policies. The Congress will be placed strongly by 2024 and will regain its strength and vote-bank in due time,” he said.

Dinesh Gundurao, AICC-in-charge of Tamil Nadu, told ThePrint that Senthil will be a big asset for the party as his experience and commitment will make a big difference.

“He will prove to be a good asset for the party, and especially in Tamil Nadu. His experience as an upright officer will also prove extremely helpful to rebuild and re-energise the party. Senthil built a good name in Karnataka with his honest work. His decision to join the Congress was based on how he found the values of the party in line with his thinking.”

Rao added: “Senthil hopes to work towards countering the BJP’s ‘divisive’ policies and alleged efforts to create discontent over religious issues.”

Served as DC of Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Raichur 

Senthil was a 2009-batch IAS officer who quit the service when he was serving as the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada.

“I have taken this decision as I feel it is unethical for me to continue as a civil servant in the government when the fundamental building blocks of our diverse democracy are being compromised in an unprecedented manner,” Senthil wrote in his resignation letter.

“I also feel strongly that the coming days will present extremely difficult challenges to the basic fabric of our nation and that I would be better off outside the IAS to continue with my work at making life better for all. It simply cannot be business as usual anymore,” he added.

Senthil had also served as the DC of Chitradurga and Raichur in Karnataka.

His resignation came a month after Kerala-cadre IAS officer Kannan Gopinathan quit the service, citing the clampdown in Jammu and Kashmir after the scrapping of Article 370.

In his statement stared on Twitter Sunday, Senthil said he visited many places in the last one year, participated in several protests and was “able to contribute to the great anti-NRC/CAA movement, which proved to me that people in this country are ready to stand for one another”.