Election Commission puts appointments of 16 PDP-BJP members as VCs on hold

SHABIR AHMAD

Srinagar: In view of the Model Code of Conduct that is in place ahead of two Lok Sabha by-polls in April, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has put all the recent appointments of Vice Chairpersons in abeyance, much to the embarrassment of the state government.
"The appointments have been put on hold till completion of elections, "Jammu and Kashmir Chief Election Officer (CEO) Shantmanu said.
On March 17, ahead of elections for Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary segments, the J&K Government had approved the appointment of 14 middle-rung leaders of ruling PDP-BJP Government as Vice-Chairmen of different Corporations in the State. The appointments landed in rough weather due to imposition of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and opposition National Conference had filed a complaint before ECI.
Official sources said the poll panel acted on complaint of opposition National Conference and announced that appointment to be on hold till elections are over. "The decision was taken Thursday evening."
National Conference Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani had filed the complaint with ECI on behalf of the party and asked the poll body to take cognizance of such an order or series of orders, saying these "could be used to influence the conduct and fairness of elections."
The PDP and BJP in February this year decided to go for large-scale "rehabilitation" of their middle-rung leadership by appointing them as Vice-Chairmen of different institutions, including the Corporations which are literally on death-bed.
The Government had finalized a list of 17 political functionaries for appointing them as heads of different Corporations including the Medical Supplies Corporation (MSC). The MSC was set-up to ensure transparency in purchase of drugs and keep the procurements away from political interference.
Official sources said that out of 17 appointments, three were kept on hold at the eleventh hour as there was no provision of appointing VC in the State Forest Corporation, JAKFED and Police Housing Corporation. Among the appointees, eight are from Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary segments where the Model Code of Conduct is in place. The voting in these segments would take place respectively on April 9 and 12.
Those who were appointed included Gulzar Ahmad (PDP; Jammu and Kashmir Industries Limited); Ataullah Samnani (PDP; J&K Minerals Limited); Parvez Ahmad (PDP; State Road Transport Corporation); Vijaya Dogra (PDP; Women's Development Corporation); Manmohan Singh (BJP; Medical Supplies Corporation); Rashid Mehmood (PC; Agro Industries Corporation); Ghulam Muhammad Mir (BJP; HPMC), Balbir Ram (BJP; SC,ST &OBC Development Corporation); Khalid Jehangir (BJP; JKPCC); Nazir Itoo (PDP; J&K Cements Limited); Muntazir Mohiuddin (PDP; Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation Limited); Ali Muhammad (BJP; SICOP) and Subash Jandial ( BJP: SIDCO).