IAS Officer Tina Dabi bowed Once. Then twice. Then a third time. Repeated it for a fourth time. And a fifth time. All this in a span of seven seconds. She was seen greeting BJP leader Satish Poonia, former Rajasthan BJP state president.

The young officer’s effusive gestures have raised a debate over propriety and politician-bureaucrat dynamics.

In a video that is viral, a convoy of white SUVs comes to a halt. A security officer dashes to the front, opens the door for Mr Poonia, seated in the front; he steps out while speaking to someone on his mobile, shows the undated video.

Tina Dabi, who took over as District Collector of Barmer in Rajasthan last month, waits to greet the leader. Even as Mr Poonia is still checking his phone, the IAS officer bows and greets the leader, five times in seven seconds, shows the video.

“Thank you. Thank you. Tina Dabi accha kaam kar rahi hai, safai karwa rahi hai, dustbin lagwa rahi hai (Tina Dabi is doing good work. Is getting the cleaning done, getting the dustbins installed),” says Mr Poonia, showering praise on the officer who is often on trending lists.

Mr Poonia surveys the scene, puts his phone back into his kurta pocket, and turns to the officer. “Dadaigiri kar rahe ho (You are bullying),” he jokes, then adds, “Lekin achha kaam kar rahe ho (But you are doing good work). Barmer will also become like Indore. You are doing a good job.”

Tina Dabi is seen greeting the leader with folded hands, three times in quick succession.

Mr Poonia greets the others present and moves ahead.

Tina Dabi, whose wedding to fellow IAS officer Pradeep Gawande made headlines in 2023, has started an innovative initiative – “Navo Barmer”- meaning new Barmer.

Under the initiative, cleanliness campaigns are being run in the city using new-age technology.

Jaipur:

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday appointed Satish Poonia, Rajasthan BJP’s ex-president as Haryana state in charge.

Mr Poonia has been amongst BJP in-charge and co-in-charge appointed for 24 states by BJP President J.P. Nadda. He has also served as the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the last assembly.

Along with Mr Poonia, UP Rajya Sabha MP Surendra Singh Nagar has been appointed as co-in-charge.

In the Lok Sabha elections too, the party had appointed Satish Poonia as the state election in-charge in Haryana.

Meanwhile, the BJP has not yet decided who will be the party’s Rajasthan chief as the name of the desert state did not appear in this list of 24 states, which was released on Friday.

Arun Singh served as the last state in-charge in Rajasthan and ever since his shifting to Andhra Pradesh, the position remained vacant.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)