CHENNAI: In a rare instance, a 66 year old retired IAS officer, native of Punjab, is fighting the May 16 Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu for the lotus. Ujagar Singh, from Khiali, is a candidate of the Akila Indiya Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam, a BJP ally, from the Sozhinganallur constituency.
A former IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre of 1977 batch, he has held different positions in the state government and had retired as Special Commissioner, Government Data Centre in 2010. While he belongs to the AIMKMK party, he is currently contesting on the symbol of BJP. When asked why he wants to try his hand in Tamil Nadu politics, Singh said, "I was convinced about the welfare programmes of the party like free education. Moreover, I was requested by AIMKMK chief Devanathan to fight the polls and I know him, he is a good leader."
When IAS officials from other states mostly go back to their native places after retirement, what prompted him to stay back? He says, “Tamil people are very kind, nice and large hearted, they have no jealousy and no chauvinism like you find in some other places in our country. Also, my decision to stay back is in fulfilment of my promise to late Chief Minister (AIADMK founder) M G Ramachandran, a great humanist who wanted officials like me to stay back post retirement,” he says, adding the idea was to continue to work for the welfare of the people.
