New BJP Government Reshuffling administration, confronting challenges

 

 

 

 

 

In the wake of Vishnu Deo Sai assuming the role of Chief Minister in Chhattisgarh, expectations for positive change in the realms of welfare and development are high among the populace. Beyond the commitment to fulfil the ‘Modi’ ki guarantee manifesto, the BJP-led government faces the imperative to overhaul longstanding practices and personnel within various departments. Within a month of coming to power, the Vishnu Deo Sai administration has initiated a significant reshuffle, impacting 88 IAS officers and one IPS officer, leading to change of Collectors in several districts. Anticipation is that there will be further changes, particularly within the police department. A critical challenge for the new state government lies in addressing issues and individuals indicted by investigative agencies, including the IT and ED. The 2000 crore liquor scam, uncovered by the ED, served as a significant stain on the previous Congress-led Chhattisgarh government. However, instead of taking decisive action against those implicated in the scandal, the government purportedly attempted to shield them and pointed fingers at investigative agencies and the Modi government, invoking claims of political vendetta. The crux of the matter remains that investigative agencies have exposed a major scam, placing the onus on the government to pursue a thorough and impartial investigation to its logical conclusion.

 

Allegations of a reduction in government revenue through Excise, with individuals in the liquor trade accumulating wealth unethically in collaboration with politicians, bureaucrats, and Excise department officials, demand rigorous scrutiny by the current administration. Despite the Congress government’s 2018 election promise of implementing prohibition, the last five years saw no tangible progress on this front, even after forming a committee. Given Chhattisgarh’s tribal dominance, the issue of prohibition holds critical significance, yet the previous government failed to address the proliferation of liquor to the smallest hamlets, despite the evident adverse effects. The new government shoulders the responsibility of thoroughly investigating the liquor scam, with the possibility of calling for a CBI inquiry to ensure impartiality. Though the government has changed but in the liquor business, those implicated in the scandal remain active in the trade.

 

The allure of monetary gains poses a risk of their return under a new guise. Consequently, the government must prioritize the replacement of placement agencies, district Excise officials, and officials in the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Ltd (CSMCL) with individuals of integrity and a clean image. This endeavour presents a substantial challenge, heightened by the need to maintain the credibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose name played a pivotal role in the BJP’s return to power, surprising even state BJP leaders. Senior BJP and RSS leaders expressed optimism that the Vishnu Deo Sai government will take effective measures to usher in positive change.