Thiruvananthapuram: Local self-govt minister K M Shaji on Monday defended the state govt’s decision to appoint N Seshadrinathan as the State Election Commissioner (SEC), saying the appointment was made collectively by the cabinet after due deliberations.Responding to criticism over the appointment, Shaji said the govt was examining the objections raised but maintained that the decision was taken after detailed discussions in the cabinet. “I have said everything I had to say. If there are further questions, they should be addressed to the chief minister. I am not prepared to change my stand,” the minister told reporters in New Delhi.Referring to criticism from political quarters, Shaji said he had spoken to KPCC secretary P M Niyas on Sunday and insisted there were no differences between them. Niyas had publicly opposed Seshadrinathan’s appointment, alleging that he had an SFI background during his college days and was now a sympathiser of the Sangh Parivar.Commenting on the political attacks against him, Shaji said, “Those who once portrayed me as a Muslim extremist are now branding me an RSS supporter. I have never functioned under the patronage of any media organization and will continue to act according to my conscience.”The minister also criticised the practice of displaying boards identifying beneficiaries of houses built under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY), calling it inappropriate. He said he had consistently opposed such displays, including for houses constructed by political parties.Citing the Indian Union Muslim League’s housing projects in Wayanad, Shaji said none of the houses built by the party carried identification boards.
