Political appointees may lose their posts

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 15

Even as certain political appointees on various posts have already started resigning, there is uncertainty over more than 300 political appointments made by outgoing Chief Minster Parkash Singh Badal just before the elections on 15 newly setup boards.

A couple of weeks before elections, Badal had appointed around 300 Akali Dal and BJP workers and leaders on different posts of these boards.

According to official sources, these appointments are likely to come under fire in the very beginning. Earlier during the campaign also, Amarinder had accused the Badals of making over 300 political appointments in violation of norms.

Different boards, including Rai Sikh Welfare Board, Punjab State Kamboj Welfare Board, Punjab Rajput Welfare Board, Christian Welfare Board, Punjab Parjapat Welfare Board, Ramgarhia Welfare Board, Saini Welfare Board, Dalit Vikas Board, Vimukat Jaatiyaan Welfare Board, Baazigar and Taprivaas Welfare Board, Muslim Welfare Board, Christian Welfare Board etc were constituted to accommodate leaders of the SAD and the BJP.

Besides, Punjab Migrant Labour Welfare Board, Punjabi Culture Coordination Board, Punjab State Youth Welfare Board and Punjab Pensioners Welfare Board were also constituted. These appointments are costing the exchequer at least Rs 10 crore annually. Some of the boards had three or four vice-chairmen. Besides office expenses and employees, each chairman, senior vice-chairman and vice-chairman of board is paid anywhere between Rs 15 and Rs 20 lakh annually.