https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Making the Big Splash: When IPS, IAS Officers Opt for Politics

A number of civil servants have been making switch from administration to active politics. In this new series, we at Indian Masterminds focus on them, and whether they succeed in their new endeavours or fall flat on their faces. After all, politics is a great equaliser.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Ever since he stepped out of the caves thousands of years ago, man’s search for greener pastures has still not ended. Whether it was the Spanish conquest of the vast South American tribal regions, the fortune seekers of Europe setting up colonies in North America and Australia and as recently as three centuries ago the subjugation of India by British, French and Portugese colonists, the goal was always the same: better prospects for them.

At a much smaller degree (though quite significant for the risk-takers) involve the search for greener pastures by the powerful civil servants of India. And what could give them richer dividends than an innings in active politics? This is going to be an ongoing attempt by Indian Masterminds to chronicle the “political journeys’’ of IAS, IPS and other officers.

THE `SINGHAM’ LEAVES HIS LAIR

Mr K Annamalai, the 2011-batch Karnataka cadre IPS officer who quit services and joined the BJP in August this year, is the latest serving bureaucrat to have made the transition from administration to politics.

Mr Annamalai is a mechanical engineer and an MBA graduate. His first stint was as additional SP, Karkala, for a few months before he was promoted SP, Udupi. During this period, he earned the reputation for dealing strongly with issues of communal tensions and student unrest. Soon, he was called `The Singham of Upupi’ for his no-nonsense approach and style of work.

         In 2018, Mr. Annamalai was sent as SP, Ramanagara district.   He was transferred to Bengaluru soon after the B.S. Yediyurappa-led BJP government took over, to head Bengaluru South division where he served till May 2019 before he resigned.

Soon after resigning, he had said he wanted to serve people and correct inefficiencies in the system.

“I am taking a break from directly reporting to the government to serve the people and motivate and help them to be leaders at the grass root level,” he had said while launching “To be leaders foundation” at his home town Karur in Tamil Nadu a few months ago.

IAS TO CONGRESS

Former IAS officer and now a Congressman, Senthil’s grab (above) is from his Twitter account

Soon after Mr Annamalai made the switch, former IAS officer Mr S Sasikanth Senthil  from Tamil Nadu joined the Congress. Though he had resigned in 2019, he joined the Grand Old Party in November 2020. Speaking on the accession, he said, “After 70 to 80 years of independence, if there is a surge in the number of bureaucrats entering politics, it is quite clear that there is a big issue in relation to governance,”

He added: “A divide in values is pushing people in civil services to politics because we have realised the ideological fights currently playing out in the country need a political solution. The current system is not about people versus the government but it is letting people fight other people. That is why, even though the opposition is currently perceived as ‘weak’ in the country I have decided to join them in the hope that I can help them fight the current government,”

ACTORS STILL CALL THE SHOTS

Although over the decades, quite a few serving and retired bureaucrats from South India have dabbled into the world of politics, the limelight was always on the actors who made this switch. The biggest name, of course, is legendary Tamil actor and subsequently an equally popular Chief Minister M G Ramachandran, followed by his protégé J Jayalalitha. Very recently, matinee idols such as Chiranjeevi, Kamal Haasan and Ramya have been unable to resist the lure of the political arena.

But while most actors are helped by their larger-than-life onscreen persona, the bureaucrats-turned-politicians, no matter how good they had been in their task, had to start with a clean slate. Unless, like T N Seshan, they have a cult following.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
PESB
PESB Opens Applications for Director Posts in NHPC and CONCOR; Apply by November 11
CBI
2 IPS Officers Appointed as SPs in CBI on 5-Year Central Deputation – Know Their Profiles
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-21 at 2.07
Govardhan Puja: CM Mohan Yadav Performs Puja at Tilkeshwar Temple, Reiterates Commitment to Farmers & Cow Welfare
Pushkar Singh Dhami Cow
Govardhan Puja in Uttarakhand: CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Highlights Cow Conservation as Key to Culture and Self-Reliance
Gujarat News
From Temple to Policy: Gujarat CM’s New Year Message Blends Tradition with Self-Reliant Growth
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Lights Up with Development: CM Vishnu Deo Sai Celebrates Diwali at Gurudham, Announces Rs. 1.58 Crore Revamp Plan
Lucknow parks development
Lucknow’s Green Makeover: LDA to Revamp 50 Parks with Rs. 150 Crore Urban Eco-Development Plan
Yogi Adityanath Ayodhya visit in Diwali
Yogi Government’s Bold Move: Satellite 'Invest UP' Offices in 5 Metro Cities to Boost National & Global Investments in Uttar Pradesh
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
PESB
PESB Opens Applications for Director Posts in NHPC and CONCOR; Apply by November 11
CBI
2 IPS Officers Appointed as SPs in CBI on 5-Year Central Deputation – Know Their Profiles
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT