Mellow Chautala tries to make up with babus over tea

Chastened by the severe electoral defeat, a much-mellowed down outgoing Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala today sought to iron out ...

Chastened by the severe electoral defeat, a much-mellowed down outgoing Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala today sought to iron out differences with the bureaucrats.

‘‘Jane anjane mein hi koi baat ho gayi hogi, aap man mein mat rakhna (don’t take it to heart if something was said unintentionally),’’ said a languid Chautala who called the babus over for a cup of tea.

And to show that he means no harm, he reinstated Bhasker Chatterjee as Financial Commissioner. This was the same Chautala who had during the fag end of his government suspended Chatterjee, known for his proximity to the Chautalas during their five-year tenure.

Story continues below this ad

The CM had suspended Chatterjee for refusing to issue licences to certain colonisers in Gurgaon because he thought it would invite the wrath of the Election Commission.

Known for his tough handling of the bureaucrats, Chautala today said: ‘‘Hamara aapka saath to bana rahega. Kabhi kabhi ho jata hai. Mujhe asha hai aap vikas ke kaam rokenge nahin (Our relationship will continue. I hope you will not stop the developmental work).’’

About 50 officers attended the tea party which lasted about an hour. Chautala made it a point to attend to senior officers personally.

But the IAS officers, who had passed a resolution against Chautala’s ‘‘attitude’’ though without naming him only a day before the counting, were divided on this last-minute gesture. They apprehended it might go against their future prospects in the next government.

Story continues below this ad

A number of those owing allegiance to the Congress frontrunners for chief ministership ignored the invitation even though many heads of department attended the party. Anil Razdan proposed the vote of thanks to the outgoing CM.

This tenure has seen a love-hate relationship between the bureaucrats and Chautala. Chatterjee was not the first one to invite his wrath, though he was the only one to be suspended. The ‘punishment’, in most other cases, was restricted to transfer or a Central deputation.

The state had a record number of officers who opted for Central deputation during the Chautala regime. Those close to him had stayed on plum posts, but only till the time they remained in his good books. When angered, Chautala did not hesitate to hit out even at them.

Minister’s sons on campaign let off with warning

The government has sought to only warn the two sons of former Education minister Bahadur Singh, both Haryana Civil Services officers, for being absent from duty despite orders to report at headquarters. Jagdeep Singh and Sandeep Singh had allegedly been campaigning for their father in Loharu in violation of the model code of conduct. After complaints, they were directed to report at the headquarters, but failed. They were chargesheeted for indiscipline and absence from duty after the Election Commission asked the government to take action on this.