By IANS
Ranchi : Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, to keep his fellow legislators in the ruling United Progressive Alliance well humoured, is planning to elevate those not in the cabinet to the posts of chairpersons of state boards and corporations.
The appointments, which carry ministerial trappings, are the anniversary gifts. The UPA government completes a year in office on Sep 17.
Of the 43 UPA legislators in the state, 12 – including Madhu Koda – are cabinet ministers. Eight of them are independents, whose support is vital for the government. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, which heads the UPA in the state with 17 legislators, has three ministers.
The Congress, which has nine legislators, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which has seven, support the Koda government from outside. But they now clearly want some plum offices.
Luckily, Jharkhand has 32 state-run boards and corporations. Many are headed by the persons appointed by the previous National Democratic Alliance government. Koda had kept appointments of new chairpersons to these entities pending to avoid tussle within the UPA. Now decks have been cleared for new appointments.
The chairpersons of the state boards and corporations get official beacon fitted vehicles, personal secretaries, security guards, official residences and other facilities.
One round of talks has already taken place in New Delhi with the central UPA leaders regarding the distribution of these prestigious posts among the non-cabinet members. This is being done to ensure that the government functions smoothly.
Struggle has begun in the UPA over grabbing money-making and powerful boards and corporations.
“The RJD has sacrificed a lot in the formation of the Koda government. The JMM is part of the government and the Congress got the post of the speaker. The RJD should be given due place in the boards and corporations,” said Prakash Ram, a RJD legislator.
Niel Tirkey, a Congress legislator, said: “The sentiments of Congress legislators should be taken into consideration during the distribution of boards and corporations.”
Even independent legislators who are ministers want to head some of these state-run outfits.
“Our supporters have also pinned their hopes on boards and corporations and their interests should be protected,” said Kamlesh Singh, the water resources minister who is an independent legislator.