Published Nov 30, 2022 | 5:42 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 30, 2022 | 6:38 PM
Congressman Sasikanth Senthil addressing the party workers in one of the party events in Tamil Nadu recently. (Pic - Twitter - Sasikanth Senthil)
A year after resigning from government service, Sasikanth Senthil, 42, joined active politics.
Government officials joining active politics is not new. In Senthil’s case, however, it was unexpected since politicians hated him when he was the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, though he was dear to the people and schoolchildren.
A 2009 batch IAS officer belonging to the Karnataka cadre, Senthil had worked as a teacher and software engineer before cracking the UPSC exam.
“The preparation was something that I will always cherish because I was exposed to several voluntary organisations,” the man hailing from Chennai, recalled.
Senthil’s first posting as an IAS officer was in Ballari, as the district’s assistant commissioner. He served two terms as the chief executive officer of the Zilla panchayat in Shivamogga and then as deputy commissioner of Chitradurga and Raichur.
He was also the director of the Department of Mines and Geology in 2016. In 2017, he took charge as the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada.
His stint in Dakshina Kannada was not smooth. The district tested him with two consecutive floods, and communal violence. The sand-mining mafia, too, was another challenge.
The challenges brought out the best in him and Senthil became dear to the people — and persona non grata with the politicians.
After a successful two-year stint in Dakshina Kannada, Senthil sprang a surprise by announcing his resignation from service. The reason evoked mixed responses from across the country.
“It was unethical on my part to continue as a civil servant when the fundamental building blocks of diverse democracy are being compromised in an unprecedented manner,” Senthil pointed out in his resignation letter.
He clarified the decision to resign was “purely personal” and that no person or event was responsible.
“I also strongly feel that the coming days will present extremely difficult challenges to the basic fabric of our nation and that I would be better off outside the IAS to continue with my work making life better for all,” he continued.
“It simply cannot be business as usual anymore,” he asserted. Three years later, the Government of India accepted Senthil’s resignation.
Senthil said he had a good tenure in service, and expressed his gratitude to the people of Karnataka for accepting him.
“I could have certainly continued for some more time. I was bothered about the direction the country was taking. The central government had then abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution,” he told South First.
The Article was a temporary provision granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP-led NDA government repealed the Article on 5 August 2019.
“It was not an isolated incident but part of a series of incidents. I saw it as a majoritarian attack on the ethos of the country,” Senthil said.
The resignation was a well-thought decision. “At a very young age itself, I had decided that I will be in public life. I had to choose between civil service or fighting these forces from outside. In civil service, we have our conduct rules and we are not supposed to be political but objective and impartial.”
He knew it would be unethical on his part to continue in services and raise his voice. The primary reason to quit the service was to fight these forces and do “what I can to protect the Idea of India”, Senthil justified his decision.
He did not hesitate to express his political views. “I did not like the way India was being led. I was always apprehensive about India I would leave to my children,” he clarified.
“I suddenly didn’t want India, majoritarian and fascist thriving on people’s hatred. I had to fight it, and it became my priority. My only option was to get out (of service) and do it,” Senthil elaborated.
Senthil actively participated in protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register for Citizens.
A year after submitting his resignation letter, Senthil, on 9 November 2020, announced his intention to join the Congress party.
“I am joining the Congress. I see this party as the only one leading a massive people’s movement against the hate politics of BJP,” Senthil lashed out at the BJP at his first news conference after joining the grand old party.
Senthil also participated in the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra. He is currently heading the election war room of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).
“I realised that fascism has only one language and that is violence,” he stated.
“As anticipated, violence broke out in Delhi,” he said, referring to the northeast Delhi riots of 2020, which left at least 53 people dead. “Asking people to shed blood is not the permanent solution. The permanent solution has to be political,” he added.
On joining the Congress, Senthil said that he felt it was the only party that has been upholding the Indian Constitution.
The former IAS officer said he was not concerned about holding any particular position in the party. “The positions keep changing. I am more bothered about the ideology we need to pass on to our children,” he added.
Senthil compared the Congress with the BJP. The primary aim of the Congress was the independence movement. The movement was not only against the British but also against the inequalities that existed in the Indian society,” he stated.
“The freedom movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B R Ambedkar and others was against inequality. Their aim was to create a pluralistic India where all will be equal,” he said.
Senthil hastened to add that there was a group of people who disliked the idea of pluralism and equality during the freedom movement, he said, referring to the Hindu Mahasabha and the creation of Pakistan.
“They believe in a hierarchical society. If a party is formed based on that belief, everybody understands that its primary enemy is the constitution. I don’t even consider BJP as a party. It is a system of human hierarchy,” he asserted.
Commenting on the current status of the Congress in Tamil Nadu, Senthil opined that the party has a long way to go. “The party was led by K Kamaraj, former chief minister of Madras state (now Tamil Nadu). His governance was appreciated across the country.”
“Now, the Congress is in a very bad shape. The party’s vote share slipped from 40 percent to four percent. Tamil Nadu is ready for Congress’s revival,” added Senthil.
“The state has already experienced the power of cooperation, power of fraternity and power of love and affection. We have a lot of work to complete. We believe that Tamilians will recognise our work,” Senthil sounded confident.
“The state is insulated from majoritarian and communal thought processes. Tamil Nadu does not believe in these things. The BJP with its money power and muscle power will do everything,” he added.
