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Maharashtra: Babus scramble for plum posts in new government

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It's lobbying time, and babus are at it earnestly. They are using their connections to get plump posts and departments in the new BJP-led government in Maharashtra.

Most of the bureaucrats from Vidarbha, particularly Nagpur, have RSS connections and are pushing their clout heavily through ministers known to them.

The departments that are much in demand are the chief minister's office (CMO), home, revenue, urban, irrigation, MMRDA, CIDCO, Mhada (chiefs) and public works.

"We were sidelined by the previous regime. We now hope to get the lucrative departments. With regime change, bureaucracy and postings also change. I am trying to get the urban development department where I want to implement my ideas on modern cities and affordable housing. The chief minister is keeping UD with him, so I will get a lot of chance to work with him," said a senior bureaucrat on condition of anonymity. He said if his name was revealed, his chances of getting the department he wanted would be thwarted.

Another bureaucrat said they could not make a formal request to the chief minister in this regard. "Lobbying should be done off office. I have already put in a word seeking the CIDCO chief's post through known politicians. With the Navi Mumbai International Airport coming up, CIDCO chief will have a lot to do," he added.

Chief secretary Swadhin Kshatriya, meanwhile, told dna that he had not received any such requests from anyone. "Our officers do not seek any particular department. Posting is the prerogative of the chief minister, so they may approach the CM. But on administrative level, we do not entertain such requests," said Kshatriya.

Meanwhile, the new ministers have decided not to retain the personal secretaries and assistants who had worked with Congress and NCP ministers. "These personal assistants will be transferred to their previous departments. We want to keep loyal staffers because we handle a lot sensitive files. Retaining old fellows would mean giving an opportunity to the oppositions to get sensitive information. These personal staff would be faithful to their previous ministers. We do not want to take any risk and therefore have decided to transfer all former personal assistants and secretaries and bring in new one," said a BJP leader.

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