Managing day-to-day affairs in the absence of adequate staff must have been an uphill task for reigning State Election Commissioner SD Sharma however inertia is likely to set in at the commission’s office once the commissioner relinquishes his post on the day his tenure comes to an end.
Sharma, who will complete his tenure on July 15, will relinquish his post as no successor for the post has been named by Government so far. “I don’t know anything about my successor,” said Sharma adding “I am not even aware of any names being discussed in Government corridors.”
Interestingly, Sharma’s end of term will reduce the number of hands needed to take care of the commission which is gasping for more employees for a fairly long time. “I tried my best to manage the affairs of the commission but cannot deny the fact that it is short of staff,” added Sharma.
Sources in the SEC confided that the commission is awaiting sanction of as many as nine posts including Director Expenditure besides 4 assistant, one section officer, one personal assistant and one Joint Election Commissioner.
“Government has to be responsive to the SEC’s requirements,” maintained Sharma.
The commission, hitherto, has written on innumerable occasions to the government requesting- creating more posts and filling up sanctioned positions- but to no avail.
“Even sanctioned posts are vacant. Government appoints a PA but the person never assumed office,” Sharma quipped.
Meanwhile, the outgoing commissioner expressed satisfaction over his stint at the SEC and defended his actions as Commissioner vis-à-vis mayoral polls.
“I have no complains. I did my work as per the Constitution of India and rescinding of mayoral polls is a case in point,” he said.