Amidst protest by its senior leaders on the induction of new members in Haryana Public Service Commission, the BJP Government in Haryana appeared on the back foot on Monday.
Even as three new members were to be inducted in HPSC on Monday evening, the State Government decided to go ahead with two names only, following the dissent within the party over the new appointments.
Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki administered the oath of office and secrecy to Neeta Khera and Jai Bhagwan Goyal as members of the HPSC on Monday evening while another name Narender Yadav, which was cleared for the post by Manohar lal Khattar Government on Sunday was dropped by Monday evening.
Sources said that senior Cabinet Minister Ram Bilas Sharma and BJP national secretary Sudha Yadav were unhappy with the selection of Narendra Yadav and even flew down to New Delhi on Monday morning to meet BJP central leaders to express their displeasure over Narendra Yadav’s induction.
While Ram Bilas Sharma denied any such meeting, Narendra Yadav’s name was dropped by the evening confirming dissent over his selection within the party. Narendra Yadav is said to be close to former Congress CPS Rao Daan Singh and hence, many BJP leaders were unhappy over his name being cleared for the post.
Sources said that Cabinet Minister Anil Vij is also unhappy for not being consulted before induction of Neeta Khera in the HPSC.
Neeta Khera has served as Municipal Councillor from Ambala and has also worked as Member of Social Welfare Board Haryana. Jai Bhagwan Goyal, a law graduate has served as president District Bar Association, Jind and is a close confidant of Union Minister Birender Singh.
With the induction of two new members, the HPSC would have four members appointed by the BJP government against three by the erstwhile Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government.
The HPSC has a total strength of eight members and chairperson. Of the present strength, chairman Manvir Singh Bhadana and members Surender Sharma, Neelam Singh and Rajesh Vaid were appointed during Bhupinder Singh Hooda tenure while Vandana Sharma and Kulbir Chhikara were appointed by the BJP Government.
Vandana Sharma is Union Minister Sushma Swaraj’s sister while Chhikara is a close confidant of Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu.