Axed ministers will be taken care of

LUCKNOW: With talks on to accommodate a minister as chairman of Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) after downsizing of the ministry, will the post of vice-chairman (V-C) be abolished? The government apparently is in no mood to appoint a V-C for LDA, as is evident from the fact that after Manoj Singh was removed from the controversial post, no IAS official was appointed even though a month has passed with all major decisions being put off.Also, Lucknow division commissioner DC Lakha has continued as LDA chairman, taking on the V-C''s responsibility too.
Already, the post of V-C of Kanpur Development Authority is lying vacant after KDA V-C Hira Mani Singh Yadav was suspended recently. Though his name was also in the fray earlier for LDA V- C''s post, his suspension put to rest all rumours.
"Those who do not find ministerial berths after the downsizing are likely to be posted as non-official heads of various corporations and semi-government bodies. And maybe, even in development authorities," said a senior bureaucrat, as the posts cannot be abolished. Lakha said the post will be filled soon with the chief minister''s approval.
However, another senior official said, "it is clear that the government will not appoint a V-C for LDA soon. LDA secretary Rekha Gupta is handling routine administrative work."