MP govt cancels political appointments, shifts controversial Rajgarh collector

BHOPAL: Hours after shifting the chief secretary appointed by Congress ruled Kamal Nath government six-day ago, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the second day of his assuming charge of the office, cancelled all political appointments with immediate effect. Chouhan also shifted the controversial Rajgarh collector, Nidhi Nivedita and her deputy, Priya Verma, who had slapped BJP workers during pro-CAA rally in the district, in January.
A BJP delegation led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan had on March 17 called on governor Lalji Tandon urging him to cancel all political appointments made by the Congress-led Kamal Nath government in the state. "The Congress government of Kamal Nath is in minority but it is appointing its workers to constitutional posts. A minority government has no power to do this," Chouhan had said.
On March 16, the Kamal Nath government had ordered appointment of M Gopal Reddy as chief secretary, replacing SR Mohanty, while heads were also appointed for constitutional bodies including MP Women's Commission, State Backward Classes Commission, State SCs Commission, State Minority Cell and State ST Commission. All these appointments stands cancelled now, stated an official communique.
A decision on appointments in State Women Commission and MPMPSC are likely to reach here soon. However, Congress has opposed the cancellation. "I have been appointed as chairman of backward Commission which is a constitutional post. The governmetn cannot make changes till three years. I will challenge the decision in the court," said senor Congress leader, JP Dhanopia.
The Shivraj Singh Chouhan government also shifted controversial IAS officer and collector of Rajgarh, Nidhi Nivedita to secretariat as deputy secretary. Nivedita had on January 19 slapped a BJP spokesperson while trying to manage law and order situation during a pro-CAA rally in her area. Her deputy Priya Verma was also involved during the incident. She is also learnt to have been shifted from her position. Deputy secretary in secretariat, Neeraj Kumar Singh has been appointed Rajgarh collector.
The BJP had organised a protest against the incident and alleged highhandedness of the officers in Rajgarh. The party had also submitted a memorandum to the Governor demanding action. The Congress government had ordered an inquiry into the incident however, the two officers were given clean chit in the case.
Apart from this, the government also shifted municipal commissioner of Rewa, Sabhajeet Yadav, who had slapped a Rs 5 crore notice to former BJP minister Rajendra Shukla, a close confident of CM Chouhan, for using defamatory words. Yadav has been appointed additional secretary in the secretariat. CEO, disrict panchayat, Rewa, Arpit Verma has been assigned additional charge of the municipal commissioner, stated an official release.