Rural development and Panchayati Raj minister C P Joshi has been at the receiving end of severe criticism since he took charge in June this year, be it for his very “Rajasthan-centric” approach, his rather politically incorrect behaviour while replying to questions in Parliament (for which Pranab Mukherjee actually had to apologize) and the lack of a larger vision. Throughout his stint in politics – earlier as state leader and minister in Rajasthan – Joshi has been known for his brusque and aggressive demeanor and has ruffled many a feathers because of it.

Officials in the rural development ministry meanwhile, have yet another issue with Joshi’s style of functioning – his habit of trying to do too many things at one go. Joshi is a man in a hurry and his ambition of enlarging the scope of several schemes in a short period, particularly the flagship National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or NREGA, is making him seem impulsive. “He talks faster than he thinks,” his colleagues in the ministry say.

Since becoming minister, Joshi – who was apparently handpicked by Rahul Gandhi – has been announcing a slew of measures both in NREGS and other schemes under the rural development ministry, without first addressing certain systemic problems, which many officials in the ministry feel are impetuous.

Despite these shortcomings, however, officials in the ministry do praise him for his “integrity and good intentions” as well as his very matter of fact way of functioning.

“Given his positive qualities and experience, if Joshi just sits down to think a little bit before acting, he would making for an exceptional minister,” officials say.

Lets just hope Joshi does actually tone down his impulsive and over enthusiastic streak and emerge an efficient and constructive minister of two very crucial and fund-consuming ministries.