Initially, the BJP did not fully grasp the seriousness of this threat. By the time the party realized the potential damage, the opposition’s election campaign had gained traction. This time, the BJP acted quickly. Although the party had strongly defended the policy over the weekend, citing that lateral entries have been part of the Indian administrative system since the days of Jawaharlal Nehru, there were already indications by Monday that a re-evaluation was underway. The government not only decided to backtrack on the advertisement but also considered introducing quotas in lateral entries, a move that might conflict with the objective of bringing in specialists for roles that require specific expertise.
The timing of this decision is also influenced by the upcoming state elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Haryana—regions with significant constituencies that are directly affected by quota policies. With the Supreme Court’s verdict on the sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes (SCs) bringing the issue of caste census to the forefront, the BJP appears to be strategizing on how to best manage its political capital concerning caste and reservation issues.
The public stance of the BJP’s ally, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Chirag Paswan, likely underscored the urgency of the situation. The BJP acted swiftly by rejecting the Supreme Court’s recommendation to introduce the ‘creamy layer’ concept in quotas for SCs and Scheduled Tribes (STs), thereby gaining an upper hand over many of its political rivals who were still formulating their positions.
Amid the political controversy, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Tuesday announced the cancellation of its advertisement for lateral entry recruitment to bureaucratic positions. The advertisement, issued on August 17, had sought to recruit 45 joint secretaries, directors, and deputy secretaries through lateral entry, which includes specialists from the private sector joining government departments. This move sparked criticism from opposition parties, who argued that it undermined the reservation rights of SCs, STs, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
It is noteworthy that the advertisement for lateral recruitment was issued just a day before a nationwide bandh (shutdown) called by Dalit organizations to protest against the Supreme Court’s verdict on the sub-categorization of SCs and STs.Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati was vocal in her opposition to the lateral entry process. She asserted that the cancellation of the advertisement was a direct result of her party’s resistance to the move, which she described as an “anti-reservation” process.
