BJP avoids P J Thomas? appointment

New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in a clear sign of disapproval, boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of Telecom Secretary P J Thomas as the new Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) on Tuesday.

Thomas made the oath before President Pratibha Patil in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Tuesday afternoon attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Law Minister M Veerappa Moily, Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah and Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, among others.

BJP?s stayed away from the ceremony after party member and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, had raised objections alleging that Thomas had a ?tainted background? since the days of the 2G mobile spectrum ?scam?.

Prime Minister had, however, backed Thomas, who succeeded Pratyush Sinha, saying he was the best candidate out of the three names in the list.