How impartial are Independent Directors of PSUs? Half from BJP

MARKETS REGULATOR Securities and Exchange Board of India is anticipated to debate Tuesday learn how to reform the system of impartial administrators — their appointment and their position within the board.
Two years in the past, the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), a Central Government assume tank, put it bluntly: “The selection of Independent Directors (ID) for PSUs has not remained independent. Instead of experienced domain experts, preference is being given to ex-IAS or recently to political affinity so the whole idea of ID has been vitiated.”
Data obtained by The Indian Express below the Right to Information Act and an investigation of data of 146 Central Public Sector Undertakings, for which particulars have been accessible, present that there are 172 Independent Directors in 98 PSUs. Of them, not less than 86, serving on 67 PSU boards, are linked to the ruling BJP.

Below is an illustrative checklist of Independent Directors from blue-chip PSUs, together with maharatnas (annual turnover of greater than Rs 25,000 cr over three years) and their date of appointment. The Indian Express contacted all 86 of them, 81 bought again with their feedback, 5 didn’t reply.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd
Manish Kapoor: Deputy Treasurer, UP BJP. (Appointed to the PSU board on Jan 30, 2020). “I am a professional and, as an independent director, I have my codified duties. I am chairing the CSR committee of the board but everything is done as per norms.”
Rajesh Sharma: ex-national convenor, BJP CA Cell, UP. (Feb 20, 2019). “I am just a member of the BJP now. No CSR fund is released from BHEL to any organisation related to anybody from the party.”
Raj Kamal Bindal: BJP member since 1996. (Jan 30, 2020). “My job there is to look after the interests of minority shareholders. It has nothing to do with the party.”

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd
Rajendra Arlekar: Former Speaker, Goa Assembly; ex-minister. (July 24, 2019). “I do not sit there with a political view but only with the interests of the company, interests of the people and interests of the nation in mind.”
Lata Usendi: vice-president, Chhattisgarh BJP; ex-minister; ex-MLA, Kondagaon. (Nov 7, 2019). “There is no conflict because of my being in the BJP.”
 
Steel Authority of India Ltd
N Shankarappa: state government member, Karnataka BJP; ex-MLC; former State OBC Commission Chairperson. (Nov 13, 2019). “My BJP background has nothing to do with SAIL.”
 
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd
G Rajendran Pillai: state government member, Kerala BJP; misplaced 1996 Assembly ballot. (July 15, 2019). “HPCL has no problem with my BJP background.”
GAIL (India) Ltd
Banto Devi Kataria: Wife of Rattan Lal Kataria, Union MoS for Social Justice and Empowerment. (Aug 6, 2018). She didn’t reply to a request for remark. Her husband Rattanlal Kataria stated: “She is not there because she is my wife. She has been active in the BJP for 34 years.” Banto Devi is a member of the CSR committee of the GAIL Board.
 
Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd
A R Mahalakshmi: vice-president, Tamil Nadu BJP; misplaced 2016 Assembly polls. (July 26, 2018). “Being in the BJP and working as an Independent Director are different things, they have nothing to do with each other.”
 
Shipping Corporation of India Ltd
Vijay Tulshiramji Jadhao: BJP candidate in Maharashtra Assembly polls in 2009 and 2014, misplaced each instances. (July 3, 2018). “There is no conflict as I have no vested interest.”
Mavjibhai B Sorathia: Convener of CA cell, Gujarat BJP; former Mayor of Anjar. (Dec 17, 2018). “When I attend meetings, I leave politics aside and work for the company’s interests.”
 
Oil India Ltd
Tangor Tapak: ex-minister, Arunachal; former BJP state president. (Aug 9, 2019). Did not reply to request for remark.
Gagann Jain: BJP member, Meghalaya. (Aug 9, 2019). “I have been appointed there as a CA, not as a BJP leader.”
 
Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd
Sita Sinha: BJP state government member, Bihar; former Janata Dal MLA; was chairman of Bihar State Social Welfare Board in 2013. (Jan 24, 2020). “RINL is run on rules and regulations, and there is no political work.”
NLC India Ltd
Narayanan Namboothiri: BJP spokesperson, Kerala; Lost 2009 Lok Sabha and 2011 Assembly polls. (July 10, 2019). “At NLC, my job has nothing to do with my party position.”
V Muralidhar Goud: BJP district in-charge, Adilabad; chairman, Telangana Development Committee. (July 10, 2019). “At board meetings, I never introduce myself with my political post.”
 
Engineers India Ltd
M Arulmurugan: vice-president, Puducherry BJP; misplaced 2011 and 2016 Assembly polls. (Aug 9, 2019). “They listen to me and respect me because of my qualifications, not because of my BJP post.”
NBCC (India) Ltd
Jyoti Kiran Shukla: ex-spokesperson, Rajasthan BJP; former chairman of State Finance Commission. (Aug 1, 2019). Also on the board of HSCC India Ltd. “I am a professional and not occupying any political post or even an active member.”

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd
Dr S Malla Reddy: former vice-president, Telangana. (July 24, 2018). “When we are in board meetings, we only discuss issues related to the company.”
 
Container Corporation of India Ltd
Jayasankar M Ok: state government member, Kerala BJP. (July 30, 2019). “We work in the interests of the company.”
It’s not simply the main PSUs, there are a number of such appointments in mini-ratnas and different authorities undertakings as nicely. Consider this:
 
Hindustan Copper Ltd
Subhash Sharma: basic secretary, Punjab BJP. (July 18, 2018). “I am an economist and my appointment has nothing to do with my position in the BJP.”
 
National Seeds Corporation Ltd
Shyamvir Saini: OBC Morcha state president, Uttarakhand BJP. (Aug 2, 2018). “Being in the BJP is not a problem.”
 
Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd
Shambhu Kumar: BJP nationwide basic secretary & in-charge, Kisan Morcha (Northeast states and UP). (March 7, 2019). “It does not matter if anyone is associated with the BJP or Congress.”
 
Bridge & Roof Company (India) Ltd
Lakshmi Suresh: Mahila Morcha vice-president, Tamil Nadu BJP; ex-Councillor. (Feb 21, 2020). “They (the board) take my suggestions and accept some of them as well.”
 
Airports Authority of India
Kasam Venkateshwarlu: secretary, Telangana BJP; misplaced Assembly polls in 2009 and 2014. (Nov 22, 2018). “I never recommend any organisation for CSR funds, etc.”
 
Numaligarh Refinery Ltd
Jaswant Singh Saini: ex-vice president, UP BJP; chairperson of UP OBC Commission; misplaced Lok Sabha polls in 2009. (Nov 29, 2019). “The meetings have nothing to do with politics.”
 
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd
Dr Biswapriya Roy Chowdhury: vice-president, West Bengal; misplaced 2014 Lok Sabha election. (Aug 15, 2018). “I attend board meetings as a Garden Reach worker, not a BJP worker.”
 
Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd
Sobha Surendran: BJP nationwide government member; misplaced 2006 and 2021 Kerala Assembly polls. (Oct 31, 2019). “I can’t talk to the media on this.”
 
Bharat Petro Resources Ltd
Mona Jaiswal: Mahila Morcha president, Punjab BJP. (Nov 12, 2019). “There is nothing like that (conflict of interest because of association with BJP).”
The appointment of Independent Directors in PSUs is a layered course of with the executive ministry taking part in a decisive position.
These Independent Directors usually are not concerned within the every day functioning of PSUs however play a job in coverage formation and are sometimes a part of varied board-level committees. Appointed for a tenure of three years, with a provision for extension, they “may receive remuneration by way of fee” and “reimbursement of expenses for participation in the Board and other meetings and profit related commission as may be approved by the members”.
In the data analysed by The Indian Express, a outstanding title is that of BJP basic secretary D Purandeswari, who’s on the board of Air India, which was put up by the Government for strategic sale final yr. Purandeswari was a Minister of State through the UPA-1 authorities earlier than switching to the BJP in 2014. She was appointed to the Air India board on October 4, 2018.
The different Independent Directors on PSUs, who’re linked to the BJP, embody:
Balmer Lawrie & Company Ltd
Vikash Preetam Sinha: co-in cost, Publicity Literature Department, BJP. (July 28, 2018). “I am not appointed only because I am in the BJP.”
 
MMTC Ltd
Swadhinta Krishna: UP BJP. (Jan 27, 2020). “My decisions are not influenced by my party post.”
Manjunath G: BJP ex-district president, Bangalore (Central); former corporator. (Dec 27, 2018). “Since I became director, I have not held any post in the BJP.”
 
Hindustan Copper Ltd
R Kalyansundaram: BJP Tamil Nadu; misplaced Assembly ballot in 1996. (July 22, 2019). “As per rules, as an Independent Director, I cannot comment.”
 
Central Warehousing Corporation
Anupama Singh Lodhi: Madhya Pradesh BJP; former BSP. (Jan 24, 2020). “We discuss warehouse policy not the policy of BJP.”
Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd
Shashi Bala Bharti: UP Women Commission member; former BJP MLA. (June 26, 2020). “There is nothing concerned with the BJP.”
 
KIOCL Ltd
Ranjit Sreenivas: BJP district vice-president, Kerala; misplaced Assembly ballot in 2016. (Oct 21, 2019). “We don’t discuss politics there.”
 
India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd
Paragbhai M Sheth: member, e-library challenge, BJP Gujarat. (July 30, 2018). “Being in the BJP and being in ITDC are separate things.”
 
HSCC (India) Limited
Jyoti Kiran Shukla: Also on the board of NBCC India Ltd.
Vinod Panthi: ex-MLA, BJP Madhya Pradesh. (Aug 1, 2019). “There is no conflict of interest because of my being in the BJP.”
 
HLL Lifecare Ltd
Dr Vijaychander Reddy: BJP Telangana; misplaced 2018 Assembly polls. (Jan 21, 2020). “I am a doctor by profession, professor by designation and involved in many voluntary activities.”
 
Central Coalfields Ltd
Dr Shubhu Kashyap: BJP Chhattisgarh state government member; misplaced 2018 Assembly ballot.(Dec 13, 2018). “When I am at CCL, I don’t think about politics.”
Jajula Gowri: BJP ex-secretary, Telangana. (July 10, 2019). “I am just a BJP worker now.”
Shiv Arora: BJP district president, Uttarakhand. (July 10, 2019). “I am also a Chartered Accountant.”
 
MOIL Ltd
Deepak Singh Bhakar: BJP spokesperson and head of suggestions division, Rajasthan. (Oct 21, 2019). “They are very particular about selection…academic qualifications and experience are considered.”
 
Western Coalfields Ltd
Darshana C Deshmukh: former vice-president of BJP ST Morcha. (July 25, 2019). “They never concerned about my politics.”
 
Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd
D Duraiganesan: BJP vice-president, Puducherry. (Aug 24, 2018). “There is no politics.”
 
Indian Rare Earths Ltd
Col B B Pandian (retd): president, BJP ex-servicemen wing, Tamil Nadu. (July 16, 2019). “My presence on the board is in no way influenced by my party.”
 
BEML Ltd
Balmuri Vanitha: BJP Telangana; misplaced 2018 Assembly polls. (Jan 24, 2020). “Due to corona, I have attended only online meetings.”
 
Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India
Umesh Jhalani: BJP Madhya Pradesh. (Jan 1, 2020). “My politics doesn’t affect my work.”
Rangavjhula Lakshmipathi: BJP Andhra Pradesh; misplaced 2009 Assembly polls. (Jan 1, 2020). “I am just an ordinary member of BJP.”
 
Central Railside Warehouse Company Ltd
Deepa Bhardwaj: BJP ex-vice president, Haryana. (Sep 20, 2018). “Being in BJP is not a problem at the PSU.”
 
FCI Aravali Gypsum & Minerals (India) Ltd
Saraswati Verma: convener, BJP NGO Cell, UP. (May 18, 2020). “I have not faced any problems due to my political background.”
 
Ferro Scrap Nigam Ltd
Laxmi Verma: BJP working committee, Chhattisgarh; former Raipur zilla panchayat president. (Dec 14, 2018). “Independent Directors come from different fields so it takes time to understand everything. Our tenure should be for at least five years.”
 
MECON Ltd
Manju Chandra: BJP UP; misplaced 1991 Lok Sabha polls; ex-vice chairperson, National Safai Karamchari Commission. (Nov 8, 2019). “No matter which party I belong to, when I attend the board meeting I am always keen about the company’s welfare.”
 
HMT (International) Ltd
S Sathyanarayanan: BJP state government member, Tamil Nadu; misplaced 2011 and 2016 Assembly polls. (March 28, 2019). “Only company matter are discussed, not politics.”
S Velpandiyan: BJP district government member, Tamil Nadu. (Feb 15, 2020). “There is no political interference in board meetings.”
 
HMT Machine Tools Ltd
G Vijaya Sunitha Reddy: Describes herself on Facebook as “Official spokesperson for BJP”, based mostly in Hyderabad. (Jan 27, 2020). Did not reply to request for remark.
 
National Film Development Corporation Ltd
Srinivasan Rajesh Kanna: His Twitter deal with is @bjprajeshkanna and his Facebook profile says he’s a “political candidate”. (Feb 27, 2020). Did not reply to request for remark.
 
Brahmaputra Crackers & Polymers Ltd
Saumitra Sarkar: BJP West Bengal; misplaced 2016 Assembly polls. (Nov 21, 2019). “My politics has never been a conflict there.”
 
Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Ltd
Bipina Bihari Padhy: Husband of ex-BJP MLA Surama Padhy. (May 9, 2020). Did not reply to request for remark.
 
Braithwaite & Company Ltd
Nirmala Devi Indukuri: BJP Hyderabad; former Congress. (July 11, 2019). “If I have an interest in something, I will do it. It has nothing to do with my political position.”
 
Burn Standard Company Ltd
Badri Prasad Singh: BJP UP; former IGP. (Aug 28, 2019). “The company is in the process of disinvestment.”
 
Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Ltd
Digvijay Dixit: BJP Delhi; ex-secretary, Mahila Morcha. (July 30, 2018). “Presently I don’t hold any party post, so there is no question of conflict.”
 
Certification Engineers International Ltd
Anita Gurjar: ex-MLA, BJP Rajasthan. (Sep 25, 2020). “Politics doesn’t matter there.”
Om Prakash Mishra: media panelist, BJP UP. (July 24, 2018). “I am a Chartered Accountant and was appointed in my professional capacity.”
 
Food Corporation of India
Dr S P Saravanan: BJP nationwide council; misplaced 2016 Tamil Nadu Assembly ballot. (Jan 21, 2020). “There is no question of conflict as I am just a member of BJP, not holding any post.”
 
Hindustan Salts Ltd
Kavita Chaudhary: BJP vice-president, Haryana. (Jan 21, 2020). “I can’t comment now.”
 
Hindustan Shipyard Ltd
V P Sreepadmanabhan: BJP particular invitee member, Kerala. (July 18, 2019). “The PSU is headquartered in Andhra Pradesh and my political activities are limited to Kerala, so there is no conflict.”
Dr N Rajalakshmi: advisor, mental cell, BJP Tamil Nadu. (Jan 21, 2020). “I am an economist and I am here because of my calibre.”
 
HMT Limited
Neera Tomar: BJP vice-president, Haryana; ex-municipal councillor. (March 27, 2019). “There is no politics. I give them suggestions and they accept it.”
 
ITI Ltd
Akhilesh Dube: ex-state coordinator, BJP Doctors Cell, Chhattisgarh. (Aug 8, 2018). “The government or party has never asked me for anything related to ITI.”
Mayank Gupta: BJP spokesperson, Uttarakhand. (Aug 13, 2018). “The single-point agenda of all directors there is the company’s interests.”
Rajen Vidyarthi: BJP UP. (Aug 8, 2018). “My appointment is because of my professional work.”
National Handicapped Finance & Development Corporation
Priyanka Chowdhary: BJP ex-spokesperson, Rajasthan. Lost 2013 Assembly polls. (July 27, 2020). “The company has no problem with my politics.”
National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation
Anjana Panwar: vice-president, SC Morcha, BJP Rajasthan; misplaced 2008 Assembly ballot. (Sep 24, 2019). “The Covid situation worsened after I completed the joining formalities, so I am yet to get a proper understanding of the position.”
 
NEPA Ltd
Kamlawati Singh: vice-president, BJP UP. (Jan 22, 2020). “There is no politics.”
Kalpana Shrivastava: BJP district vice-president, Madhya Pradesh. (Feb 18, 2019). “Party work and company work are separate.”
Power System Operation Corporation Ltd
Ruchit Uppal: BJP Doctors Cell convenor, Chandigarh. (July 15, 2018). “I can’t dictate anything to the board based on my politics.”
Dolly Gosain: BJP Mahila Morcha ex-vice president, Punjab. (July 11, 2019). “I am just a member of the BJP, not holding any post.”
Scooters India Ltd
Rakesh Sharma: Describes herself as “politician”; her husband’s brother Baldev Sharma was BJP MLA thrice in Himachal Pradesh. (Jan 28, 2020). “My association with a political party does not affect my independence in any manner.”
Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd
Rashmi Singh: BJP UP; contested 2012 Assembly ballot; was in Congress. (May 8, 2020). “I participate independently, not as a BJP leader.”
National Handloom Development Corporation Ltd
Anil Kumar Sood: BJP CA cell convenor, Himachal Pradesh. (Oct 18, 2019). “I have been a CA for 35 years, and discharging my duties as Independent Director.”
The Jute Corporation of India Ltd
Puja Vidhani: BJP state government member, Chhattisgarh; ex-president, BJP state Mahila Morcha. (Feb 19, 2020). “I sit on the board as a non-political participant.”
National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation
S Asim Basha: BJP minorities cell ex-chief, Tamil Nadu. (Dec 10, 2019). “I have never made any recommendation to NMDFC.”
National Scheduled Castes Finance & Development Corporation
Dr Ok Ramalingam: BJP Doctors Cell president, Tamil Nadu. (Oct 8, 2018). “There is no conflict because of my political post.”
National Jute Manufacturers Corporation Ltd
Madhvi Agrawal: BJP Mahila Morcha nationwide government member. (March 9, 2020). “There is no conflict between my political affiliation and my role as Independent Director.”
(Note: Some designations have been sourced from social media profiles.)