New pay commission is outcome of election force: Arun Maira

KOLKATA: Constitution of the 7th Pay Commission is an "election force", Planning Commission member Arun Maira said today.

"All government employees will want it while others may not... This is a big election force," Maira said on the sidelines of a FICCI organised seminar on India's Regulatory Framework here.

"It is an interesting situation since it is election time," he said when asked about the timing for it.

"You need to get elected otherwise you cannot do what you want to do," he added.

The recommendations of the Commission will benefit about 50 lakh central government employees, including those in defence and railways, and about 30 lakh pensioners, coming ahead of the assembly elections in five states in November and the general elections next year.