Chavan passes the buck to Kerala govt after PM blames him

As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appeared to blame him for CVC P J Thomas appointment fiasco, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today sought to pass the buck to the Kerala government.

As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appeared to blame him for CVC P J Thomas appointment fiasco, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today sought to pass the buck to the Kerala government.

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"DoPT had suggested three names -- two retired officers and one serving--- for the post. One of them was Chief
Secretary in a state to be brought to Delhi. Vigilance clearance is done by the state," Chavan told reporters here.

On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement, Chavan said "what the Prime Minister has said is correct. He himself
doesn't go and see. Whatever biodata were placed before him by the department, he decided on its basis. He chose one of the names recommended by the DoPT. That's a fact," he said.

Under attack over P J Thomas' appointment as CVC, the Prime Minister today said in the Rajya Sabha that he was
unaware of the corruption case against Thomas and virtually blamed Chavan, who was MoS (Personnel) at that time, for the fiasco, contending the key information was not provided.