There seems to be the same old disqualification tactic employed by the ruling YCP leaders in the selection of the new State Election Commissioner. As per the guidelines, the YCP Government sent a list of three names to Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan for finalising the new SEC. The list contained the names of retired IAS officers Samuel and Premchandra Reddy in addition to Nilam Sawhney.

However, Sawhney’s name was finally approved citing reasons of disqualification of the remaining two enlisted retired officers. The rules say that the retired IAS officers who crossed 65 years of age cannot be permitted to become the Election Commissioners.

It was found out that both Samuel and Premchandra Reddy have crossed the age limit. Hence, their candidature for the SEC post became untenable. Now questions are being raised whether the Government did not check the ineligibility of Samuel and Premchandra Reddy before putting their names on the list that was sent to the Governor.

Doubts are there whether the Government deliberately made Nilam Sawhney the new SEC in order to take its sweet revenge against the outgoing SEC Ramesh Kumar. It was Nilam who defied Ramesh Kumar’s orders and eventually facing contempt of court cases.