Tara Chand Meena, a 2011 batch IAS promoted from state civil services, has taken voluntary retirement three months ahead of scheduled superannuation.
A native of Pali, Tara Chand Meena is set to contest election from tribal seat of Udaipur on Congress ticket. His VRS is likely to be a step towards this development. His name is almost certain, likely to be announced soon.
Meena is considered close to former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and had been under APO since January 5, 2024. His proximity with Gehlot can be gauged from the fact that he was felicitated with ‘CM Excellence' award for his services in April 2023. Those who know Meena can very well understand the reason behind choosing him for the award.
”Reason can be anything but work. Tara Chand Meena had never been an outstanding officer. He had enjoyed patronage of Gehlot and had plum postings even when he was an RAS officer including director local bodies and secretary Jodhpur Development Authority.
Before putting under APO, Meena had served in Udaipur for two years since January 2022 in various capacities including collector Udaipur, commissioner tribal area development and director mines among other posts in additional charge.
“Tara Chand Meena is a political person rather than an officer. His working was like a politician. People were expecting him to contest assembly elections. But now with VRS, he is likely to contest Lok Sabha elections from Congress, which is struggling to find suitable candidates,” said an RAS officer, who has worked with Meena.
In last two years, Tara Chand Meena is said tk have reached out to tribal community and expanded his base among electorates Udaipur constituency. The parliamentary constituency consists of eight assembly segments, out of which all are tribal except Udaipur city.
Tara Chand Meena may set up ‘Officers' Contest'
BJP has fielded Mannalal Rawat, who is a former additional commissioner from Rajasthan Transport Service. He has also taken VRS to contest on BJP ticket. If Tara Chand Meena is being fielded from Congress, the contest would be interesting between two former officers with advantage to Mannalal Rawat, who has spent most of his tenure in Udaipur division. He is a strong candidate as he has been given preference over sitting MP Arjunlal Meena, who had won this seat consecutively two times 2014 and 2019. He had defeated Raghuveer Meena from Congress on both the occasions. Raghuveer Meena recently lost assembly elections also. He contested from Salumber on Congress ticket.
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