LUCKNOW, Jan 17: The Election Commission today directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to immediately revoke the orders relating to appointments of four Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs as chairmen of corporations and another legislator of that party as vice-chairman of the state Planning Commission.In an order issued here today, the Commission said, ``The action of the UP Government in appointing the MLAs not only seeks to unfairly influence the voters by holding out largesse but also seeks to influence the elected representatives of another party during the election''.
Earlier this week, the EC has sought an explanation from the Uttar Pradesh Government as to why action should not be taken against it for violating of the Model Code of Conduct.
Earlier, the EC had postponed the Legislative Council elections by a fortnight after Chief Minister Kalyan Singh announced grants worth Rs 250 crores for local bodies, just five days prior to the polls.
Daring the EC once again, Kalyan appointed Shiv Ganesh
Lodhi as UP Mineral Development Corporation chairman, Ved Prakash as Social Welfare Corporation chairman, Rajendra Patel as SC/ST Welfare Corporation chairman, Munna Maurya as UP Agro chairman and Jai Narain Tiwari as State Planning Commission vice-chairman after the promulgation of the EC's code of conduct.
In an apparent bid to avoid the EC's wrath, the State Government announced the five ``nominations'' only on Thursday night, after it received the EC's query on the move. However, a Government spokesman claimed that the notification was issued on January 14.
Clause 7 (VI) of the code states: From the time the elections are announced by the Commission, Ministers and other authorities shall not make ad-hoc appointments in Government, PSUs etc, which might influence voters in favour of the party in power.
However, the Government spokesman claimed on Friday that the EC's guidelines had not been flouted. ``The BSP MLAs have been nominated by the Government and not appointed on ad-hoc basis. The Model Codeof Conduct does not say that State Government cannot make political nominations,'' he said.
The spokesman added that the Government had taken legal advice before issuing the notification. However, the EC feels that its consent should have been sought before issuing the order.
The decision of the Kalyan Singh Government to appoint five BSP MLAs to the posts is being seen as a bait for the legislators to cross over to the BJP.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
