The Rising People’s Party (RPP) has strongly criticized the ruling NDPP-BJP coalition in Nagaland over what it alleges are “backdoor” entries into the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). In a scathing statement, the party accused the government of abandoning established recruitment norms and “throwing every rule book into the dustbin” to arbitrarily induct individuals into the prestigious civil service.
Cadre vs. Ex-Cadre: RPP Flags Serious Irregularities
Highlighting a distinction between cadre and ex-cadre employees, the RPP noted that while cadre officers typically enter government service through competitive, constitutional bodies like the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC), many ex-cadre appointees are allegedly political nominees with no transparent selection process.
Such practices, the party argued, severely compromise the principles of meritocracy and damage the credibility of public institutions.
Not an Isolated Case: Civil Associations Raised Similar Concerns
The RPP drew attention to earlier warnings from civil associations such as CANSSEA, FONSESA, NSSA, and NF&ASA, who had also raised red flags about questionable IAS inductions. The party cited a past incident where a candidate allegedly entered the IAS via non-transparent means, which escaped scrutiny at the time due to a lack of active opposition and public awareness.
RPP Demands Full Disclosure
With the matter now in the public domain, the RPP has called for complete transparency, demanding the government reveal the name of the individual reportedly favored for induction. It also urged civil associations to verify whether the candidate was originally appointed through an ex-cadre route.
Calling the development a “textbook case of manipulation” in an opposition-less government, the RPP voiced strong support for the associations opposing such moves and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that only eligible and meritorious candidates enter the IAS.
