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Read and act: A SPecial bible for good governance

Barely a day after Mulayam Singh Yadav directed his son and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to fulfill poll promises in a year, bureaucrats in Uttar Pradesh dug out the Samajwadi Party manifesto.

Updated on: Mar 25, 2012, 23:36:12 IST
Hindustan Times | By , Lucknow
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Barely a day after Mulayam Singh Yadav directed his son and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to fulfill poll promises in a year, bureaucrats in Uttar Pradesh dug out the Samajwadi Party manifesto.

HT Image
HT Image

This is not the first time that senior officers are holding on to the ruling party’s election manifesto as a bible.

“Senior officers are expected to know about the likely priorities of the new government. So when a new government is formed, the party’s election manifesto becomes a ready reckoner for officers,” said an officer.

“The BSP did not have a manifesto. So, the officers having knowledge or commitment to the BSP’s ideology had an advantage over others,” added the officer.

With reshuffle being the norm, knowledge of poll promises of the party in power proves advantageous to officers.

An officer elaborated, “I am leaving a small gift (manifesto) for my successor, he will need it in the days to come.”

As keeping poll promises remains the chief minister’s top priority, senior officers have begun studying the 24-page document ‘UP Vidhan Sabha Chunav 2012’, which may be seen on top of the files on senior IAS officers’ desks.

A principal secretary rank officer exulted as he had done his homework.

“I have gone through the manifesto and noted down the points that may directly concern my department.”

The first-time CM had begun his innings by directing the implementation of some of the poll promises at the very first meeting of the state cabinet on March 15, such as distribution of unemployment allowance and computers.

That seems a promising start.

  • Umesh Raghuvanshi
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Umesh Raghuvanshi

    Umesh Raghuvanshi is a journalist with over three decade experience. He covers politics, finance, environment and social issues. He has covered all assembly and parliament elections in Uttar Pradesh since 1984.Read More