Despite reports of depleting brahmin support to the BSP, UP chief minister Mayawati is in no mood to give up her social engineering formula.
The appointment of Anup Misra, a brahmin officer of 1978 batch, as chief secretary is proof of this. Mr Misra’s appointment has now clearly paved the way for the elevation of Brij Lal, a dalit IPS officer, as DGP of Uttar Pradesh when the present incumbent Karamvir Singh retires in the coming months.
A brahmin chief secretary and a dalit DGP will perfectly showcase the BSP’s formula for social engineering. Mr Misra incidentally has superseded several senior to make it to the top post. Mr R.K. Sharma of 1976 batch has been posted as PICUP managing director while V.K. Sharma will head the Board of Revenue. Another senior officer Neeta Choudhury who belongs to the 1977 batch will shortly be leaving for central deputation.
Desh Deepak Varma, who had been recalled from central deputation in February to take over as chief secretary, has been left high and dry in the board of revenue.
“What titled the scales in favour of Anup Misra was the fact that he is a Brahmin and acceptable to the two lobbies headed by Satish Chandra Misra and Shashank Shekhar Singh. Other candidates fell short on this score. Mohinder Singh was a strong candidate for the post but did not fit into caste equations,” said a senior official.
Meanwhile, the elevation of Mr Brij Lal to the post of DGP is almost confirmed after the retirement of the present incumbent Karamvir Singh.
“The chief minister wants to send a clear signal to dalits as well as upper castes that in her government, both will be given equal importance. Dalit officers like Fateh Bahadur are holding key positions like home and appointment.