BHOPAL : With the beginning of the process of political appointments in the state, the contenders have started making last-ditch efforts to secure a place for themselves.
It is clear from the first list of appointees that the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan is trying to perform a fine balancing act.
Om Yadav, who has been appointed as Chairman, Bhopal Development Authority, is an old guard of the party and is known to be close to Home Minister Babulal Gaur. Yadav was a contender for Mayoral ticket from Bhopal.
Abhay Chaudhary, who has been appointed Chairman of Gwalior Development Authority is the choice of Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. Chaudhary too was keen to contest the Mayoral elections in Gwalior. Jagdish Agarwal, Chairman, Ujjain Development Authority and Vinod Mishra, Chairman, Jabalpur Development Authority are said to be the choice of the BJP Organisation. Their names were decided by BJP State President Nandkumar Singh Chauhan and Organisational General Secretary Arvind Menon.
Bhupendra Arya and Narendra Maravi, appointed in Commissions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes respectively were promised red beacon car in return for foregoing their claim for party nomination in Assembly polls. Shivraj Shah was also not given ticket in Assembly elections. An attempt has been made to please the Gurjar community by appointing State General Secretary Banshilal Gurjar as Chairman of Rajya Krishak Aayog. The second list of political appointments may be released in a day or two. The appointments of Vijendra Singh Sisodia, Tapan Bhaumik, Hitesh Vajpayee, Padma Shukla and Lata Wankhede have been finalised. From Indore, either Babu Singh Raghuvanshi or Govind Maalu may be appointed.
