Akhilesh transfers 1,000 bureaucrats in 24 days

Lucknow, April 9 (IANS) With more than 1,011 transfers in 24 days, the once powerful bureaucracy in Uttar Pradesh is running for cover these days.

And so while the babudom was rife of a "complete overhaul" of the state police and bureaucracy, officials have been taken by surprise at the bulk numbers in which Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is rejigging them.

On the first day in power (March 15), the chief minister made only minor changes, posting new faces in his secretariat.

The flood gates opened soon after, and the top posts in the IAS and IPS establishments were shifted.

Till date, more than 1,000 officials from the police and administrative services have been shunted from here to there, reportedly based on their "loyalty tilts".

These transfers include Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani, who was placed in place of Anoop Mishra.

Uttar Pradesh also got a new police boss. Director General of Police A.C. Sharma succeeded Atul Kumar.

Most Inspector Generals of Police, Deputy Inspector Generals, Senior Superintendents, Additional Superintendents and Deputy Superintendents in the state were also transferred.

What has taken many by surprise is the flip-flops by the government.

More than 100 IAS, IPS, PPS and PCS officials in the state have been posted, then their postings cancelled within 24 or less hours.

While many feel that "backroom manoeuvrings" are behind the pulls, many admit that such frequent transfers have left them in a tizzy.

Prominent amongst the flip-flop transfers includes senior IAS officer Sanjay Agarwal, who was made principal secretary to the chief minister on March 28.

He joined the fifth floor secretariat of the chief minister in the night but was removed the next day and posted as principal secretary, Health.

Similarly, Majid Ali was made principal secretary of Power and was removed within hours and given the charge of Cooperatives.

Rajan Shukla was made Industrial Development Commissioner and removed two days later and given charge of Irrigation.

The district magistrate of Bulandshahr, Kamini Ratan Chauhan, was first made head of Pratapgarh district and then made the Additional Commissioner Trade Tax.

Santosh Yadav was first made divisional commissioner of Meerut and removed within five days to become vice chairman of the Ghaziabad Development Authority.