INLD objects to retd IAS' appointment as Haryana SEC

Haryana's main opposition INLD today raised objection to the appointment of Rajeev Sharma as the State Election Commissioner, on the grounds that the retired IAS officer had joined a political party and "publicly acknowledged his political affiliations".
"... Therefore it tantamounts to making a political appointment to a constitutional post," INLD senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala maintained.
Former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala-led Indian National Lok Dal also said that Sharma's appointment, made two days back by the BJP Government in the state, was "against all established principles and traditions."
In a letter written to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today, Abhay mentioned, "It was with great concern and shock that the INLD and the people of Haryana came to know that Rajiv Sharma, retd IAS officer has been appointed State Election Commissioner (SEC)".

"By making this appointment, the government has put a question mark on the impartiality and fairness in the functioning of the office of the SEC since the said gentleman had after retirement from civil service opted to choose his democratic right of joining a political party (BJP last year).
"By thus making a choice, Rajeev Sharma had declared his partisan role in public life from that point onward...," Abhay, who is also the Leader of Opposition, further wrote.

The INLD MLA also drew the CM's attention to Article 243K of the Constitution of India "to point out that since it makes the office of the SEC a constitutional post, therefore appointing a person who has publicly acknowledged his political affiliations tantamount to making a political appointment to a constitutional post".

"This is not only unethical and unheard of in Indian history but also a blatant attempt to influence the forthcoming elections to local bodies (which are due in Haryana shortly)," he mentioned and added that "the INLD feels outraged over such an appointment having been made".
Abhay also pointed out that the state government "has seriously erred in making this appointment that has been made without even consulting the Leader of the Opposition (Abhay Chautala)."
"I sincerely hope that this is an inadvertent slip which will be gracefully corrected by withdrawing the order of appointment before oath is administered (to Rajeev Sharma)," he said.