The recent Cabinet reshuffle, third in as many years, had everyone immersed in a riveting, albeit watered down, desi version of the guessing Game of Thrones. Reportedly no one, except the Prime Minister and the BJP president, was in the know of its contours.

Even during the swearing -in ceremony, the Ministers, including four former bureaucrats (two from the IAS, one each from the IFS and the IPS), were not informed about their assigned portfolios. Before leaving for the BRICS conference in China the same day, the Prime Minister instructed officials that these Ministers, along with the others whose portfolios were changed, be intimated telephonically between 11-30 a.m. and 1 p.m. i.e. after the ceremony. The portfolio list was officially released only at 1.30 p.m.

The list put paid to many a fanciful dream and speculation. The hallmark of the entire exercise was confidentiality of a high order and meticulous planning, which some commentators applauded as being impressively corporate in spirit and a welcome break from the past. After the Presidential nominee startler of July, however, this should not have had a knock-out effect. More of the unexpected should have been expected.

Be that as it may, the overarching mantra in the reshuffle was projected as perform or perish. That it did not, in fact, quite explain the complete story and that, predictably enough, more conventional factors of caste and region did play their inevitable role, was conveniently glossed over. Not all performers were upgraded.

Neither were all non-performers shown the door to political oblivion. Some were utterly flummoxed by their new assignments! (For those who may be scratching their heads, this refers to Giriraj Singh, who took over from his senior, Kalraj Mishra. Evidently age, not non-performance played, spoilsport here). Typically, performance has always been an alien creature in our entitlement-addicted political mindsets and predominantly non-accountable governance styles. Bringing it centre-stage, therefore, was bound to resonate strongly.

Canny strategizing, in other words, if one were to act the unpopular sceptic. It was perceived to be in perfect sync with the Prime Minister’s strong push for a New India by 2022. More than anything else, the embedded message was important. And doubting Ram-s and Rahim-s would perforce have to just shut up. The associated symbolism was taken to near dizzying heights with the elevation of Nirmala Sitharaman ~ a MOS with only a decade-plus association with the party ~ with not too many top-notch scores in an admittedly challenging sector to preen about ~ as the Raksha Mantri and a privileged member of the exclusive Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs, successfully smashing the tough proverbial glass ceiling, thus making it to the coveted league of fifteen countries worldwide. Narishakti at its spectacular best.

The Government had to be seen to be serious about enhancing its efforts to come good on many compelling electoral promises, which seemed at times to be merely sputtering along as empty rhetoric.

With preparations for the 2019 electoral slugfest having been taken in hand in real earnest by the BJP, the veritable winning machine, and sights set on 350-plus seats in the Lok Sabha, pushing the refresh button could not have been postponed indefinitely.

It is in the context of performance orientation that the induction of the bureaucrat quartet assumes special significance. The impression conveyed was that they were miles ahead in their capability to ace priority Governmental goals vis-à-vis many dyed in the wool politicos. Such a positive profiling was indeed unique. A few chosen former bureaucrats and box-wallahs had featured in Rajiv Gandhi’s inner circle back in the 80s but that had more to do with buddy / proximity -related reasons, less with performance expectations.

Understandably, this astute move met with immediate approbation, underscoring the abiding faith of the aam janata in the professional acumen of bureaucrats and their proven ability to deliver, provided the requisite autonomy and support to do so were guaranteed. It was also assessed as a manifestation of the Government’s sankalp to turf out the self-serving and patently ineffective parasites shamelessly living off tax payers hard earned money.

The Prime Minister personally addressed the likely reaction ~ possibly from his colleagues, more than others ~ to “babe- packing” the Cabinet by highlighting their impeccable credentials. The PMO, it is understood, did a deep dive into the past and fished out many a gem for each of the quartet, some dating back decades to their student days and their remarkable careers. Clearly, they came out sparkling. Full credit to them. It has not mattered that two of them are not Members of Parliament, despite knowing that electioneering, even in safe, pocket seats takes its toll on governance. It has not mattered that they have been associated with the BJP for only a few years, relatively late entrants, so to say.

It has not mattered that one of them has swung from the left to the right for electoral considerations.

It has not mattered that one of them, the former Union Home Secretary, has gone on record, expressing his disgust at the party’s corrupt practice of allegedly selling tickets during the 2015 Bihar elections and refusing to join the campaign. It has not mattered that one has served overseas for the better part of his career.

It has not mattered that there is lack of or inadequate domain expertise for the sectors they have been tasked to salvage in a time squeeze of less than two years. Quite idyllic, almost touching. Faith and hope have clearly trumped all else. They have expectedly made the right noises about doing justice to their responsibilities.

The jarring beef related non-quotable quotes by the Tourism Minister, who appears overly zealous to simultaneously morph into a bridge for the BJP with the Christian community and violence wracked Kerala, his home-state, may be ignored for now.

The jury is out and performance parameters are being watched closely. Highly ironically though, serving bureaucrats have ~ barring some exceptions ~ generally not been recipients of similar encomiums on the performance count from the highest levels of this Government.

They have had to be exhorted on innumerable occasions, from Secretary, Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary levels in the Central Government to DMs in the States, to give a far better account of themselves. If anything, they are trashed routinely ~ often unfairly so ~ and held responsible for many of the persisting dysfunctionalities debilitating development and growth programmers.

There is much hype about weeding out overflowing dead wood in the system and bringing in, through the controversial lateral-entry route, wizards from the highly prized corporate arena.

Niti Aayog is working overtime on its pet rejig-bureaucracy project, causing consternation, uncertainty and leading to slow morale sapping.

The apparent mismatch in the trust factor between former bureaucrats-turned Ministers and serving bureaucrats needs serious attention. If the twosome does not pirouette in harmony, performance is doomed to remain lackadaisical.

Surely the Government does not intend to merely carve out another attractive post-retirement aspiration for bureaucrats ~ that of plunging into enthralling politics! We know its damaging implications for governance.

(The writer is a retired IAS officer and comments on governance issues)