Finally, the BJP “loyalists” have been appointed as the chairmen of seven boards and corporations of Punjab. Fulfilling the long pending demand of its alliance partner, the SAD-led State Government gave its nod to the appointments on Wednesday.
The issue was hanging fire since long, and any decision on the same was expected after the completion of campaigning for the Delhi Assembly polls. The decision came after over a two month deadlock over the declaration of chairmen of various boards and corporations from the BJP quota. The BJP had submitted the list of probables more than two months back to the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
It has been learnt that the decision has been deferred as the two sides were adamant on its stand, refusing to give in. While SAD chief and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal has been insisting on giving less number of posts to the BJP in view of its fewer number of legislators this time, the in-charge of Punjab BJP affairs Shanta Kumar, on the other hand, had made it clear that the party would stick to the previous arrangement. In fact, the hour-long meetings between the SAD-BJP senior leaders, repeated pleas, and assurances failed to find an amicable solution to the problem.
During SAD-BJP’s first government, the BJP had 19 MlAs against 48 SAD legislators. But its number has now witnessed a dip from 19 to 12, while the Akali Dal has made a huge leap of nine seats to 57 MlAs, other than the support of two independent MlAs. Even as the list released on Wednesday has seven names, the BJP is expecting to have more posts in its share. The appointments of seven chairmen of boards and corporations of the state government approved by the Chief Minister on Wednesday included the names of Shakti Kumar Sharma who has been appointed as chairman of Punjab Small Industrial Export Corporation (PSIEC).
Besides, Vinod Kumar Sharma has been appointed chairman of Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB), Raghunath Singh Rana as Punjab Medium Industries Development Board chairman, Vijay Sampla as Punjab State Forest Development Corporation chairman, Harjeet Singh Grewal as Punjab Khadi and Village Industries Board chairman, Manjeet Singh Rai as the chairman of Punjab Information and Communication Corporation — known as Punjab Infotech, and Narottam Dev Ratti as Punjab Traders’ Board chairman.
Besides, Badal has also approved the appointment of Kamaljeet Singh Hayer as the member of Punjab State Commission for NRIs. “The formal orders in this regard are being issued shortly,” stated the spokesman of the Chief Minister’s office. Sources maintained that the BJP also wanted to have in its share the Gau Sewa Board (Cow Welfare Board), Women and Child and Social Welfare Board and certain improvement trusts, market committees besides other organisations.