The strongest nexus that runs our system is built by two of the most important entities – political executives and government servants. Politicians love to work with bureaucrats who have mastered the art of bending rules, and these babus do not think twice before taking commands from their bosses to push files for personal benefit. The proposals in those files could be public welfare schemes, infrastructure projects or something that directly or indirectly benefits their kin, friends or cronies of the politician (and babus). This self-serving partnership lasts as long as their respective interests are met.

This nexus has been exposed time and again by whistleblowers and has set the common man fuming. The general feeling is that you cannot get a file moving in any government office without assuring cuts (euphemism for kickbacks). Agents have a rate card (unofficial one) in place for various types of work. Politicians alone can get a government officer such lucrative postings. The association starts here. How long the alliance lasts depends on how well the government officer serves his political patron. The glue that facilitates such bonds can be money or even loyalty and mutual respect for each other. This loyalty doesn’t change even when the political bosses are thrown out of power. Players in the present BJP-Sena regime can vouch for this — the government has officers who remain fiercely loyal to their erstwhile bosses even as they take commands from the current inexperienced executives.