Uncertainty over conduct of the State Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (May 14) ended with the Election Commission of India (ECI) granting permission.
The ECI stated on Monday evening that it had no objection over the convening of the meeting of the Council of Ministers, subject to certain conditions.
Suspense
The conditions, according to ECI spokesperson Sheyphali Saran, were any new decisions or revision of rates or any outstanding payment would require the permission of the Commission. The ECI also made it clear that there should not be any media announcement regarding enhancement of rates, etc.
As the ECI did not respond till evening, suspense prevailed over the meeting. There was speculation that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu might hold meetings instead with principal secretaries of various departments to discuss issues, including drinking water crisis, the loss incurred due to Fani cyclone, and the drought situation.
During the day, Chief Secretary (CS) L. V. Subrahmanyam even met the Chief Minister to update him on the situation.
The Chief Secretary reportedly told Mr. Naidu that it was not possible to hold the meeting till the ECI approved it.
The Chief Secretary met Mr. Naidu for the first time after being appointed by the Election Commission just before the elections in the State on April 11.
Mr. Subrahmanyam stayed away from the review meeting chaired by Mr. Naidu on four north coastal districts affected by the Fani cyclone.
On the same day, Mr. Naidu announced that he would hold Cabinet meeting and asserted that the model code of conduct would not come in the way as it was about calamities.
He also stressed that the bureaucrats should follow the business rules, not just the code. He also hinted that action would be taken on those officers who skip the Cabinet meeting.
Four-point agenda
Later, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) officials prepared the agenda and told the CS that Mr. Naidu desired to hold the meeting on May 10. When the CMO officials met him, he told them that 48 hours prior intimation to the ECI was necessary and its approval was mandatory as per the code. Subsequently, the Cabinet meeting was rescheduled for May 14.
The screening committee, headed by the Chief Secretary , had cleared the four-point agenda prepared by the CMO on May 9.
The Chief Secretary sent the agenda to the Election Commission through Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Gopal Krishna Dwivedi on May 10.