Plan Panel members' resignations to be given to PM tomorrow

Planning Commission members' resignations will be sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow following the end of their five-year term, paving the way for the new government to constitute a fresh panel.     

"I shall hand over the resignations of the members to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at an appropriate time. As per the norms, the resignations should be sent to the Prime Minister, who is also the Chairman of the Planning Commission after he resigns from the post of the Prime Minister," Secretary, Planning Commission, Subas Pani said.     

The members have already submitted their resignations to the Secretary.Asked about the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman's resignation procedure, he said it depended on the wishes of the Commission's Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. He could submit it through the secretary or send it to the Prime Minister directly.     

"We have already submitted our resignation letters to the Secretary, Planning Commission who will forward the same to the Prime Minister on Monday," Commission member Abhijit Sen said."We all have submitted our resignations to the Secretary, Planning Commission who will hand it over to the Prime Minister tomorrow," Commission member Sayeeda Hameed said.

However, Anwarul Hoda and Kirit Parikh said their resignations have been sent to the Prime Minister directly.As a tradition, Planning Commission members, who are appointed by the Prime Minister, resign on completion of the term of the government.     
The Commission will be reconstituted by the new government, which will be assuming office shortly.After taking over as the Prime Minister in 2004, Singh constituted the Commission with Montek Singh Ahluwalia as Deputy Chairman and other members including Abhijit Sen, B Mungekar, Kirit Parekh, Anwarul Hoda, Sayeeda Hameed and B N Yugandhar.