Retired bureaucrats, judge eager to try luck in Haryana Assembly elections

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, August 12

Many retired bureaucrats, including IAS, IPS and HCS officers, in the state are also eager to try their fortune in the upcoming Assembly elections. Even superannuated judges are also not far behind. They too intend to become a part of the political system and are vying for the party ticket for the polls.

A majority of the retired bureaucrats are seeking ticket from the Congress and some of them have also applied for that while others are lobbying for the ticket but are keeping cards close to their chest. Interestingly, those considering themselves contenders for the party ticket have also launched a public contact programme to gear up for the elections. The battle of ticket among retired bureaucrats has spiced up the political scenario ahead of the elections.

Vinay Singh Yadav, a 2003-batch IAS officer who retired in September last year, is seeking the Congress ticket from Nangal Choudhary (Mahendragarh) Assembly segment. “I have been active in the Nangal Choudhary Assembly segment for the past several months and meeting the people regarding the polls,” he said.

Interestingly, BJP MLA from Nangal Choudhary Abhe Singh Yadav, who is Irrigation Minister in the state, has also served as IAS officer. Both of them belong to Kanvi village (Nangal Choudhary). It will be an interesting contest between two former bureaucrats if the Congress fields Vinay.

Rakesh Yadav, who retired as District and Sessions Judge in February 2023, is also vying for the Congress ticket from Narnaul (Mahendragarh). He wants to resolve issues of Ahirwal like shortage of canal water on becoming a legislator. Before joining as ADJ in 2008, Rakesh was elected president and secretary of the District Bar Association, Narnaul.

“My father Naunihal Singh was active in politics and he had also contested the Assembly elections in joint Punjab,” Rakesh said.

Another retired IAS officer, Vikas Yadav recently joined the Congress. He too is contender for the Congress ticket from Narnaul. Linking development with the economy is the need of the hour for holistic growth, so his motive to join the politics is serving the people by resolving their issues and to ensure development. Vikas belongs to Nirpur village of Narnaul segment.

Belonging to the OBC category, Chander Prakash, another retired IAS officer and former State Information Commissioner, intends to contest election from Nalwa (Hisar) where OBC voters are in a considerable number.

Chander Prakash, a native of Arya Nagar village (Hisar), has been quite active in the fields. He was also a strong contender for the Congress ticket from Hisar in the recent Lok Sabha Polls. His uncle Ramji Lal had also served as Rajya Sabha MP. Considered close to former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Chander Prakash was also one of the star campaigners for the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections. He is also a member of the State Congress’ manifesto committee.

Another retired IAS officer, RS Verma, an OBC belonging to Arya Nagar village, too wants to try his luck in the electoral battle. He is willing to contest the election from either Nalwa or Barwala segment in Hisar. Though Verma, who retired two years ago, is not a member of any political party, he seems to incline towards the BJP. He has been associated with various social outfits of the region.

Subhash Yadav, an IPS officer of 1995 batch who retired as the ADGP in 2020, is an aspirant for the Congress ticket from Ateli (Mahendragarh). Belonging to Sehlang village, Yadav says his aim to join politics is to curb ‘non-sense’ being committed in the name of governance.

Wazeer Singh Goyat, a retired IAS officer of 2003 batch, has also applied for the Congress ticket for Jind as his native Jhanj Khurd village falls in this Assembly segment. “I have been in Jind for the past four months. Politics is such a big platform where you can raise the voice of people prominently,” he added.

Amarjeet Singh, an HCS officer who jumped into politics after taking voluntary retirement five months ago, is vying for the BJP ticket from Kalanaur (reserved) Assembly segment in Rohtak district. Amarjeet has also served as OSD to Governor and Chief Minister Haryana. “I am carrying out a public contact programme as part of my preparation for the upcoming elections,” he said.