In an apparent attempt to reward its loyalists and keep the flock together, Punjab Government is on an appointment spree.
With the election code of conduct expected to be imposed anytime now, the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is wasting no time in doling out plum postings of chairmen, senior vice-chairmen, vice-chairmen, directors, or members of its various boards and corporations.
On an average, Badal is approving appointment of six leaders everyday on these posts, that have generous salary and various perks attached to it.
In past one months’ time, a total of 215 appointments have been made in these corporations, boards, commissions, and improvement trusts — in virtually last minute move to reward its loyalists ahead crucial Punjab polls.
Already, two-thirds of the ruling alliance’s MlAs were taken care of by appointing them as ministers, and the chief parliamentary secretaries. However, the posts of CPSs were later held as “unconstitutional” by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
As per practice, the ruling party reward its loyalists by giving the chairmanships of state boards and corporations; besides giving representation to various castes and sections.
Going overboard, the State Government went on to make required amendments in the existing acts or rules to create addition posts of senior vice-chairman or vice-chairman wherever required to “adjust” its leaders.
Punjab has a total of 62 boards and corporations. Out of these, Chief Minister heads five boards, while 45 of them are headed by political appointees, and rest 12 have bureaucrats as chairpersons. Besides, the state has about 28 improvement trusts.
As these boards, corporations, or commissions practically do not have any power, expect recommendatory, its heads and members also do not enjoy any authority.
It has been learnt that all chairmen of boards and corporations get nearly Rs 30,000 as monthly, coupled with house rent, phone allowance, an official car with driver, petrol and its maintenance and repair.
In a single day, the Chief Minister has even cleared a total of 96 names to be appointed as chairman or members of various welfare boards in the state. The opposition leaders have described the same as “abuse of authority”, and “manipulation of the state machinery”.
Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh has already declared to review all the decisions of the outgoing SAD-BJP combine government it has taken at the fag end of its tenure before the state goes for polls early next year.
The Congress legislature Party leader Charanjit Singh Channi, lashing out at Badal, said that it was concrete proof that he had already accepted defeat.
“A number of ruling party leaders had been accommodated in various boards, corporations and other such bodies, including the state election commission. The government has even gone to the extent of creating new posts of senior vice-chairman in several undertakings like the sewerage board and the Punjab School Education Board to adjust favourites of the ruling party. These are mainly political appointments and would only add unnecessary burden on the exchequer of this bankrupt Government,” he said.
He made it clear that the Congress after coming into power in February 2017 Assembly elections would review all such appointments that were political in nature as this Government had no moral right to take such decisions when the code of conduct could come into operation anytime.
“It is an unfortunate manipulation of the state machinery,” said former MP and Trinamool Congress’ Punjab unit head Jagmeet Brar.
A senior Congress leader told The Pioneer, “It is an abuse of authority by the Badals…The speed with which appointments and transfers are being made before the imposition of the Code of Conduct for the forthcoming Assembly elections manifests this.”
The leader said that the plum postings were handed over by the Badals to their loyalists as the elections draw closer.
“Badal Government is doing everything in its power to give rewards to its supporters while the common man in Punjab is fighting desperately to make both ends meet,” the congress leader said.
On Thursday, a total of 52 names were cleared for
such appointments, while a day before, 17 appointments were made.