New Delhi: There are several bureaucrats who have retired and now they want to continue in government looking at the ongoing general elections as another opportunity knocking the door especially in Uttar Pradesh, holding mathematically the highest number of seats in the Lok Sabha. These former bureaucrats are keen to kick off their new innings as they contest with different parties’ symbols.

In the ongoing general election of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and southern states, almost a dozen IAS, IPS from the central services, state cadres are trying to get a new opportunity with political parties.

There is not a single party that is not trying a former babu to fight on their symbols. Some bureaucrats have already taken voluntary retirement from their services to contest general election, while some have completed their government services.

 

Punjab

In Punjab, the battle has been tough between two bureaucrats, though both are considered good friends in real life, contesting from Fatehpur Sahib constituency against each other. Congress leader Amar Singh, a former IAS from Madhya Pradesh cadre got a ticket from a party after being blessed by his political godfather and senior leader Digvijaya Singh. Amar Singh used to work as principal secretary of Singh during his chief ministership in the state. On another side, his political rival Darbara Singh, also an IAS from Punjab cadre succeeded in getting a ticket from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). He earlier held the post of principal secretary of ex-CM Prakash Singh Badal.

 

 Rajasthan

Controversial police officer Pankaj Choudhary, an IPS officer from Rajasthan cadre, was recently terminated from his service by the state government after a recommendation from the central government. This happened after he married for a second time without divorcing his first wife, is contesting from the Jodhpur seat from a BSP ticket. Another candidate Umrao Salodiya, ex-IAS from the state who came under the limelight for the first time after converting from Hinduism to Islam, when the Vasundhara Raje government had turned down his name as chief secretary. He is contesting election from a BSP ticket.

 

 Uttar Pradesh

The big pitch is firmly ready for the bureaucrats here as well whereas several babus already have set a mark in politics. Union minister Satya Pal Singh and former Mumbai police cop is fighting from Jat majority Bagpat in the western part of the state. Ram Bahadur, former IAS under Mayawati government, is contesting on behalf of his own political party, after ticket was denied to him by Mayawati following the alliance with Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh.

 

Assam

In north eastern state Assam, MGVK Bhanu, a former IAS who served at different posts, is contesting the election from Tejpur seat on a BJP ticket.

 

Bihar

Earlier in Bihar, several bureaucrats have tried their luck in the political turf but only some succeeded. In this state, no name has been finalised yet.

 

Odisha

The BJP has given a ticket to an officer close to CM Naveen Patnaik. Besides, BJP has shown trust in a former IAS officer. From Bhubaneswar parliamentary constituency, Aparajita Sarangi, an IAS officer who opted for voluntary retirement, is contesting on the lotus symbol. The same seat, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has fielded former Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik. Moreover, BJP has put its faith in former CRPF director general and Odisha DGP Prakash Mishra for the Cuttack parliamentary seat.