Speaking to newspersons here on Wednesday, chief election commissioner M S Gill said, "We have received no complaints against the shuffling of secretaries. We have no reason to interfere in this matter."

Commissioner J M Lyngdoh was also of a similar view. He said, "Vacancies can't be kept in the government. Day-to-day functioning of the government should not suffer" because of elections.

EC officials point out that the commission has no locus standi regarding normal appointments and transfers. They say that the model code of conduct is quite unambiguous on this issue. The code says that the government shall not make any "ad hoc appointments in government, public undertakings." Theappointment of the finance secretary is clearly not an "ad hoc" appointment, the EC officials said. In the case of the MSP of kharif crops, too, the commission has "no reason to interfere," Gill said, adding that the farmers have to informed about the MSP. The commission held a meeting with the chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh. It will take a decision on Friday whether the state government has violated the model code by announcing certain schemes, Gill said. The commission has also sent notes to other states to seek their clarification regarding schemes which might influence behaviour, Gill said. "We are not blocking development," the chief election commissioner said. But any programme that violates the code of conduct can be "kept in abeyance for 10 weeks," he added.