Saini ‘clips’ wings of 3 seniormost ministers

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini seems to have clipped the wings of three of his seniormost ministerial colleagues as they have not been included in a top decision-making body — the High-Powered Purchase Committee (HPPC).

The committee is mandated to decide all purchases of stores and services valued at above Rs 5 crore, besides rate contracts for various purchases.

• 3 seniormost ministers — Anil Vij, Krishan Lal Panwar & Rao Narbir — placed at number 2, 3 and 4 in order of precedence after CM, not part of the High-Powered Purchase Committee
• Mahipal Dhanda and Vipul Goel, number 5 and 6 in the Saini Cabinet, made members of the committee

The trio — Anil Vij, Energy, Transport and Labour Minister; Krishan Lal Panwar, Development and Panchayats and Mines and Geology Minister; and Rao Narbir Singh, Industries and Commerce Minister — are conspicuous by their absence in the apex body.

These senior ministers, who are placed at number two, three and four in the order of precedence after the Chief Minister in the Council of Ministers, have not been included in the HPPC, while two other ministers, placed at the number five and six slots, have been included in the committee. The two ministers, who are part of the reconstituted committee are Mahipal Dhanda, Parliamentary Affairs, School Education and Higher Education Minister, and Vipul Goel, Revenue and Disaster Management, Urban Local Bodies and Civil Aviation Minister.

Besides the Chief Minister, who is the chairman of the committee, the minister in charge/administrative secretary of the department concerned, administrative secretary of the Finance Department and the Director General of Supplies and Disposals (member secretary) will be the other members of the committee, an order of the government said.

Recently, many an eyebrow were raised when former Home Minister Anil Vij was given comparatively “light” departments during the allocation of the portfolios. Saini has kept for himself major portfolios such as Home, Finance, Town and Country Planning and Excise and Taxation.

Then senior ministers Mool Chand Sharma and JP Dalal were members of the HPCC when it was earlier reconstituted on June 20, 2024.

Meanwhile, terming the reconstitution of the committee a “routine administrative matter”, a senior functionary of the Haryana Government asserted that the minister concerned was also invited to the meeting of the HPCC when decisions on matters concerning his department were taken.