First blow to Modi govt: Dissent in NDA over lateral entry into services

New Delhi, NT Bureau: Differences surfaced within the BJP-led NDA regarding the Union Public Service Commission's (UPSC) decision to fill 45 government positions through lateral entry on Monday. Both the Janata Dal (United) and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) voiced their opposition to the move.

K.C. Tyagi, national spokesperson of the JD(U), expressed his concerns in an interview with The Indian Express, stating, "Our party has consistently advocated the fulfillment of quotas since its inception, following the principles of Ram Manohar Lohia. Given that certain communities have faced social disadvantage for centuries, it is troubling that merit-based criteria are being emphasized. This government's decision is a significant concern for us."

Tyagi also suggested that the government was effectively giving the Opposition an issue on a silver platter by taking this action. Joining the ranks of opposition leaders, Union Minister Chirag Paswan became the first leader from within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to speak out against the Centre’s lateral entry scheme in public.

“My party’s stance on such appointments is absolutely clear. Wherever there are government appointments, the provisions of reservation must be followed. There is no ifs and buts in this,” the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) national president told PTI, two days after the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) sought applications for 45 positions, including joint secretary, director and deputy secretary, through lateral entry.

“The way this information has come to light is also a matter of concern for me because I am a part of this government and have the platform to raise these issues,” h e added.

Lateral entry attack on Dalits, OBCs, adivasis: Rahul

Upping the ante over the lateral entry issue, the Congress on Monday accused the BJP of “snatching reserveration” and handing out posts meant for SCs, STs, OBCs, and EWS to people of the RSS. “Lateral entry is an attack on Dalits, OBCs and adivasis,” Gandhi said on X.

“The BJP’s distorted version of Ram Rajya seeks to destroy the Constitution and snatch reservations from bahujans,” the former Congress chief said. In a post in Hindi on X, Mr. Kharge said the provision of lateral entry by the Modi government is an attack on the Constitution.

''Instead of filling jobs in government departments, the BJP has eliminated 5.1 lakh posts in the last 10 years by selling the shares of Government of India in PSUs alone.”

Casual and contractual recruitment has increased by 91 per cent, he claimed. Posts for SCs, STs, and OBCs decreased by 1.3 lakh by 2022-23, he alleged.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav criticised the move, saying the time has come to “start a national movement” against the “conspiracy by the BJP to appoint their ideological friends to top posts.