10 IAS, IPS Officers Who Made Their Way Into Politics- In Pics

Raj Kumar Singh, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1975 batch of the Bihar cadre, held the position of Union Home Secretary during his civil service career. Notably, he served as the District Magistrate of Samastipur during the 1990 Rath Yatra, when BJP leader L.K. Advani was apprehended.

In 2013, Raj Kumar Singh transitioned to a political career by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). At present, he assumes the role of Minister of State with independent charge for Power and New & Renewable Energy. 

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In 1974, Puri embarked on his career in the Indian Foreign Service. Throughout his diplomatic journey, he held prestigious positions such as Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Brazil. Additionally, he assumed the role of India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, serving in both Geneva and New York. His remarkable contributions were underscored by his presidency of the UN Security Council on two occasions, first in August 2011 and later in November 2012.

Puri joined the BJP in January 2014 and was inducted in the council of ministers on September 2017.

Annamalai Kuppusamy successfully cleared the esteemed UPSC examination, subsequently dedicating himself to serving the nation as an Indian Police Services Officer. His career commenced in 2013 when he assumed the role of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) with the Karnataka Police. Later, he progressed to become the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Udupi within the Chikamagaluru region. In 2019, Annamalai made the significant decision to resign from his position, which at the time was Deputy Commissioner of Police in South Bangalore.

On August 25, 2020, Annamalai embarked on a new chapter in his life by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Subsequently, he was appointed as the Vice President of the Tamil Nadu State BJP Unit, marking his entry into the political arena.

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Sasikanth Senthil, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Karnataka cadre, originally hailing from Tamil Nadu, made the pivotal decision to resign from the civil services in 2019. Following his departure, he joined the Congress party and was subsequently designated as the chairperson of the Congress war room in Karnataka.

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Mani Shankar Aiyar embarked on his career by entering the Indian Foreign Service in 1963. However, in 1989, he opted for retirement from the service to enter the realm of politics. His political journey led to his election as a Member of Parliament to the Lok Sabha from Mayiladuturai, Tamil Nadu, in 1991. Since then, he has assumed diverse roles and responsibilities within the government. Aiyar was a senior to Rajiv Gandhi at the Doon School.

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Hailing from Arrah, Bihar, Meira Kumar achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first woman in India to occupy the esteemed position of Lok Sabha Speaker, a role she held from 2009 to 2014. Her journey in public service began in 1973 when she joined the Indian Foreign Service, where she dedicated herself for over a decade.

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Yashwant Sinha, a native of Patna, began his career by joining the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in 1960, where he served as a bureaucrat until 1984. His foray into politics saw him assume the role of Finance Minister in Chandra Shekhar's union cabinet during 1990-91 as a member of the Janata Dal. Subsequently, he transitioned to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), holding key positions such as Finance Minister and External Affairs Minister in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

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Natwar Singh commenced his career by entering the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1953, where he dedicated 31 years of his life in service. Throughout his tenure as an IFS officer, he held significant postings in prominent embassies, including China and the United States. Additionally, he secured a seat in the eighth Lok Sabha, representing Bharatpur, Rajasthan.

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Alphons Kannanthanam, originally from Kerala's Kottayam district, had a distinguished career as a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, belonging to the 1979 batch. Following his retirement from the IAS in 2006, he embarked on a political journey by winning the election as an Independent MLA from Kanjirappally in Kottayam that same year, with the support of the Left Democratic Front.

In 2011, he made the significant decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His political ascent continued as he later became a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, representing Rajasthan, six years after joining the party.

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Ajit Jogi, a former district collector, transitioned to a political career during his tenure. Serving as an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1968 batch, he made the pivotal decision to enter politics after encouragement from then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

His journey led him to join the Congress party, and he ultimately achieved the distinction of becoming the inaugural Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. After suffering from a long illness, Jogi passed away in 2020.

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