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Journalism of Courage
IN THE HOURS leading up to the announcement of dates for elections to bypolls across states, including seven seats in Rajasthan, the state was witness to a government order being rescinded within hours. And at the centre of it was Kirodi Lal Meena, the minister who is neither in nor out of the BJP government, four months after he declared he had put in his papers.
Around 10.30 am Tuesday, the Education Department of the state issued three orders transferring 40 principals and eight lecturers from their current posts. Notably, 35 of the 40 principals were to be shifted out of schools in Dausa, the native place of Kirodi Lal; about 25 of them are Meenas like the minister; and Dausa is among the seven seats up for bypolls in Rajasthan.
Vacant since sitting Congress MLA Murari Lal Meena was elected MP in June, Dausa votes on November 13.
Shortly after the transfer lists were issued, Kirodi Lal wrote a letter to Education Minister Madan Dilawar seeking their cancellation, citing apparently “public interest”. At 1.30 pm, Director of Secondary Education Ashish Modi issued an order doing the same.
“A total of 56 transfers were there in three lists. All the three lists have been cancelled,” Modi told PTI. Asked why, he said, “The lists were withdrawn as per the government’s directions.”
With the orders and the cancellation coming just before the code of conduct came into force following the declaration of the poll dates, the Opposition termed the U-turn “a political circus”.
BJP sources admitted there was concern over how the transfers would play out in the Dausa bypoll, a seat the BJP lost in last year’s Assembly elections. “These are crucial elections for the BJP and these government teachers have influence in their area and can sabotage the chances of the party,” a BJP leader said, admitting that “political interference” led to cancellation of the transfers.
Apart from Salumbar, which the BJP is expected to win easily on a sympathy vote due to the death of their MLA Amritpal Meena, other bypoll seats may be difficult for the party.
As per some sources, Kirodi Lal has bigger stakes involved in keeping his hold over Dausa, as he hopes to swing a BJP ticket for his brother Jagmohan Meena for the bypoll. A loss for Jagmohan would not be good for the sulking BJP leader.
Incidentally, after cancelling all the three transfer lists at first, the government went ahead and reissued orders for transfer of government teachers from Dungarpur and Salumbar districts, where also bypolls are scheduled.
Congress leader Tikaram Jully said, “The U-turn government created a new circus today. A few hours before the announcement of the date for by-elections in seven Assembly constituencies, the BJP government released a long transfer list of teachers from Dausa district. These transfers were done for political gains, and the Election Commission would have cancelled them… seeing them as a pressure tactic against government employees. To avoid this embarrassment, the government withdrew the transfer lists.”
Kirodi Lal, who on paper continues to hold multiple portfolios, had announced his resignation in keeping with his pledge before the Lok Sabha elections to do this if the BJP lost Dausa, which it did.
Even as the BJP has not accepted Kirodi Lal’s resignation, he remains locked in a skirmish with the government over various corruption issues.
