Chandigarh January 12, 2017: Acting on the complaints of Opposition parties on politically motivated appointments of party functionaries to various statutory boards, Election Commission today directed that statutory function of these boards shall be discharged by officials and not by any political functionary or kept in abeyance during Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal had appointed scores of political functionaries belonging to his party SAD and its alliance partner BJP to various state Boards and Corporations in a few days prior to the MCC coming into force. The hasty manner of rushing through the appointments spree made the Opposition parties raise serious objections. They had alleged that this was illegal and went against the political morality.
Their objections were finally heard and directions issued by the full EC headed by the Chief Election Commission Nasim Zaidi during its first visit after imposition of the MCC for the upcoming Punjab Assembly election.
The EC members met the representatives of the political parties at Chandiagrh on Janaury 12 to take their feedback, understand issues, concerns and their suggestions for holding free, fair and peaceful Election.
The Commission also reviewed preparedness with DCs, CoPs, SSPs, DIGs/IGs, CAPF coordinator, DGP, Home Secretary, Chief Secretary and other senior officers of the State. Separately, commission met senior official of Income Tax, Narcotics, Excise and State representative of Enforcement agencies.