Indore Development Authority CEO Deepak Singh in all likelihood will have to pay price for his alleged role in allowing city BJP president Shankar lalwani and other BJP leaders to take charge of the IDA chairman and vice-chairmen after enforcement of model election code of conduct in Madhya Pradesh.
Following a fax message from the State Government, lalwani and other BJP leaders had been sworn in as chairman, vice-chairmen on October 4, well after mode code of conduct was put into effect in Madhya Pradesh and other four States going to poll in November and December this year.
Besides lalwani, BJP leaders Hariyanarayan Yadav, former IMC corporator lalit Porwal, and Mohit Verma had been sworn in as vice-chairmen of the IDA, while BJP leaders Rajesh Udawat, Vijay Malani, Virendra Vyas and Mrs Sitadevi Khandelwal had been inducted to the IDA board of directors as its executive members.
According to unconfirmed reports, a probe into the matter by the Election Commission of India has apparently ` confirmed’ that lalwani and other BJP leaders took charge of their new assignment well after enforcement of the election code of conduct in Madhya Pradesh . Though the Election Commission is yet to release its probe report, sources in the Election Commission has apparently indicated to a possible dissolution of the IDA’s new board of directors. On the basis of its probe report, the Election Commission has reportedly quashed appointment of lalwani and others.
Meanwhile, according to report, the State government is understood to have taken serious note of the way IDA CEO handled the reconstitution of the IDA board of directors and in order to suit his own vested interest, allowed lalwani and others to take charge of their new assignments after enforcement of model code of conduct in the state.
According to sources, state government is contemplating to remove IDA CEO from his post for his faux pass, allowing lalwani and other BJP leaders to take their oaths after enforcement of the electoral code of conduct in the state, notwithstanding the fact the state government had issued appointment order well before the election code of conduct was enforced in the state.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Jaideep Govind talking to ‘The Pioneer’ said any decision on the IDA’s appointment will be taken by the Election Commission in a day or two.
Indore collector Akash Tripathi when asked also pledged ignorance about the possible Election Commission decision. Talking to the Pioneer, he said so far no report has come to him from the Election Commission regarding dissolution of the newly appointed IDA of directors.
According to report, Shankar lanwani and other BJP leaders had resumed their charges in the IDA on October 4 after 6.30 pm, while electoral code of conduct had been enforced in the state at 4.30 pm when the Chief Election Commissioner of India had announced schedule for the Assembly elections in five states which would go to poll in November and December this year.