Lateral entry into bureaucracy: NDA a divided house? Two key BJP allies oppose the move

  • Two prominent BJP allies from Bihar – the Janata Dal (United) and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) – have opposed Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) decision to fill 45 government posts through lateral entry.

Livemint
Published20 Aug 2024, 06:25 AM IST
Lateral entry into bureaucracy: NDA divided? Two key BJP allies oppose the move
Lateral entry into bureaucracy: NDA divided? Two key BJP allies oppose the move(PTI)

A couple of allies in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA have opposed the Union Public Service Commission’s (UPSC) decision to fill 45 government posts through lateral entry.

The two prominent BJP allies from Bihar – the Janata Dal (United) and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) – opposed the move.

Also Read | BJP ally Chirag Pawas promises to raise lateral entry issue with Centre

“We are a party that has been asking governments to fill quotas since inception. We are followers of Ram Manohar Lohia. When people have been socially disadvantaged for centuries, why are you seeking merit? This order by the government is a matter of serious concern for us,” JD(U) national spokesperson KC Tyagi was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

The JD-U spokesperson said that by this decision, the government gave the issue to the opposition INDIA bloc on a platter.

The UPSC, on August 18, advertised 45 posts to be filled through the lateral entry mode on a contract basis. Earlier this month, Minister of State Jitendra Singh told the Rajya Sabha that as many as 63 appointments have been made through lateral entry in the last five years.

The move was critisised by opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi who called it an ‘attack on Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis’. In response, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal slammed Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, by reminding him that former prime minister Manmohan Singh was made the finance secretary in 1976 through the lateral entry route.

Also Read | Lateral entry row: Arjun Meghwal cites Manmohan Singh’s case, slams Rahul Gandhi

Among NDA allies, Union Minister Chirag Paswan who is the LJP (Ram Vilas) president and Union Minister Chirag Paswan, is not happy either. “Reservation provisions must be there in any government appointment. There are no ifs and buts in this. No reservation exists in the private sector and if it is not implemented in government positions as well … The information came up before me on Sunday and it is a matter of concern for me,” Paswan was quoted by news agency PTI. Paswan said that his party was absolutely not in support of such a measure.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the other BJP ally, has, however, supported it.

“Several of these (government) departments need expertise and we are happy that the lateral entry is being brought in. We have always been in favour of taking expertise from the private sector into the government,” Andhra Pradesh minister and TDP national general secretary Nara Lokesh told the Indian Express.

What is lateral entry ?

Lateral entry into bureaucracy is a practice of recruiting individuals from outside the traditional government service cadres to fill mid and senior-level positions. This was formally introduced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure, with the first set of vacancies announced in 2018.

Also Read | ’BJP’s Ram Rajya seeks to destroy Constitution’: Rahul Gandhi hits back

Candidates are typically hired on contracts ranging from three to five years, with potential extensions based on performance The move aims to keep in line with Modi government's ambitious plan to infuse fresh talent to further improve ease of governance.

The forty five specialists will be joining key posts of joint secretaries, directors and deputy secretaries in different central ministries in Government of India.

 

Catch all the Business News, Politics news,Breaking NewsEvents andLatest News Updates on Live Mint. Download TheMint News App to get Daily Market Updates.

MoreLess
First Published:20 Aug 2024, 06:25 AM IST
Business NewsPoliticsNewsLateral entry into bureaucracy: NDA a divided house? Two key BJP allies oppose the move

Get Instant Loan up to ₹10 Lakh!

  • Employment Type

    Most Active Stocks

    Bandhan Bank share price

    211.00
    03:51 PM | 11 OCT 2024
    23.25 (12.38%)

    Tata Steel share price

    160.70
    03:51 PM | 11 OCT 2024
    1.05 (0.66%)

    Axis Bank share price

    1,174.25
    03:29 PM | 11 OCT 2024
    -9.5 (-0.8%)

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises share price

    130.10
    03:55 PM | 11 OCT 2024
    0.7 (0.54%)
    More Active Stocks

    Market Snapshot

    • Top Gainers
    • Top Losers
    • 52 Week High

    Cummins India share price

    3,611.75
    03:55 PM | 11 OCT 2024
    -169.6 (-4.49%)

    Star Health and Allied Insurance share price

    547.85
    03:59 PM | 11 OCT 2024
    -19.35 (-3.41%)

    Creditaccess Grameen share price

    1,081.40
    03:29 PM | 11 OCT 2024
    -38 (-3.39%)

    Jubilant Pharmova share price

    1,146.15
    03:55 PM | 11 OCT 2024
    -37.65 (-3.18%)
    More from Top Losers

    Nippon Life share price

    700.85
    03:53 PM | 11 OCT 2024
    59.15 (9.22%)

    Network 18 Media & Investments share price

    81.44
    03:52 PM | 11 OCT 2024
    5.16 (6.76%)

    Sonata Software share price

    608.50
    03:42 PM | 11 OCT 2024
    36.1 (6.31%)

    Triveni Turbines share price

    790.10
    03:29 PM | 11 OCT 2024
    45.85 (6.16%)
    More from Top Gainers

    Recommended For You

      More Recommendations

      Gold Prices

      • 24K
      • 22K
      Bangalore
      77,425.00780.00
      Chennai
      77,431.00780.00
      Delhi
      77,583.00780.00
      Kolkata
      77,435.00780.00

      Fuel Price

      • Petrol
      • Diesel
      Bangalore
      102.86/L0.00
      Chennai
      100.76/L0.00
      Kolkata
      104.95/L0.00
      New Delhi
      94.72/L0.00

      Popular in Politics

        HomeMarketsPremiumInstant LoanMint Shorts