Many govt officials eyeing political career

Hubballi: With assembly polls around the corner, several government officials, especially those from north Karnataka, are looking to cross to the other side by joining active politics. While some have applied for voluntary retirement schemes (VRS), others have opted for compulsory retirement schemes (CRS).
For example, Shambhu Kallolikar, Tamil Nadu IAS officer, has applied for VRS and is expected to contest as a Congress candidate from Raibag constituency in Belagavi district. He has already begun holding meetings with functionaries in Raibag.
In Hubballi, P D Galemmanavar, a former HDMC zonal commissioner, has already joined Congress but is yet to decide on contesting next year’s assembly elections. Gungadi Sharanappa, 36, an agriculture officer who secured a gold medal in MSc (agriculture), is preparing to contest as an independent candidate from Yelburga constituency. Having already resigned, he is now fully involved in campaign activities.
Senior KAS officer Arvind Dalwai, who unsuccessfully contested as a Congress candidate in the 2018 elections from Arabhavi, is likely to contest again.
Political commentators said the trend is not new and pointed out that D B Naik, a KAS officer, contested from Raichur Lok Sabha seat as a JD(S) candidate in the 2019 elections.
Sanathkumar Belagali, a columnist, noted that former DGP Shankar Bidari, sitting minister B C Patil, and Kudachi MLA P Rajeev are all government officials/ bureaucrats who have crossed over to politics.
“Earlier, those who retired or were on the verge of retirement used to plunge into politics. But now, many are resigning in the prime of the career to join politics. It shows upright officers are being pressured by politicians. The best instance is of IAS officer S Sasikanth Senthil, who was recognised as an efficient and honest officer,” said Belagali.
Sources say more officials are planning to resign or opt for VRS. They are also said to be approaching astrologers to seek their guidance and help take a firm decision.