Ajit Jogi, an IAS of 1968 batch was the first chief minister of Chhattisgarh when the state was created in 2000. Now after 23 years, the state may give another IAS-chief minister in O P Choudhary, former IAS from 2005 batch, who has been elected as MLA from Raigarh assembly seat where he has served as collector.
Hailing from other backward classes (OBC), Choudhary stands a good chance of being elected as the chief minister if the party looks beyond Raman Singh, who had been three time chief minister.
Choudhary, who joined civil services at the age of 24, is said to be close to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his association with the BJP leader is believed to be the reason why he joined politics in 2018.
He had lost the 2018 elections by a huge margin form Kharsia assembly seat. Now after changing his seat, he ensured his victory.
Choudhary had resigned from service after competing just 13 years in 2018. A young politician and a trained bureaucrat Choudhary is a promising prospect for BJP.
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Even in his bureaucratic career, he was a shining star and was considered a bright officer. Choudhary's work on educational initiatives had earned him the Prime Minister's Excellence in Public Administration Award for 2011-12, under the UPA government.
Another former IAS Neelkanth Tekam has also won from Keshkal seat beating Sant Ram Netam of Congress by over 6,000 votes.
Tekam was promoted to IAS officer from state services in 2008. He was posted as a Collector in Kondagaon for over two years. He joined the BJP this year after resigning from service. He was still left with four years of service.
Neelkanth Tekam
The BJP chose him to contest from Keshkal, which comes under the Kondagaon district, as he had worked in the region for several years and was familiar with it
Vivek Shukla is a management graduate who has worked in corporate worked for 20 years and is now pursuing his passion — news.
