As many as 132 applicants, mostly from the PSUs, have applied for the top post of BSNL's CMD, while there was a lukewarm response from the corporate sector.

Out of 132 applications that the PSU has received, 84 are from officials working with BSNL itself or two other government owned firms -- MTNL and TCIL.

According to sources, very few people have applied from the private sector.

Additional Secretary in Department of Telecom Subodh Kumar, who has already been empanelled for the post of Secretary, is understood to have applied for the post.

Besides, other big names include TCIL Chairman and Managing Director RK Upadhyay, ITI Chairman K L Dhingra and others.

The government had invited applications from candidates in the public and private sector for the post of Chairman and Managing Director of BSNL.

August 16, 2010 was the last day for submitting the applications.

If a candidate from the private sector is selected, it will be the first time that the telecom PSU will be headed by a chief from the private sector.

The government has constituted a Search-cum-Selection panel headed by the Cabinet Secretary for finding a suitable candidate for the post.

As per the terms and conditions of the job, the government has offered a maximum package of up to Rs 30 lakh (Rs 3 million) annually for the post.

Sources said that the salary package acted as a deterrent for people in corporate sector. A CMD in a private firm can earn somewhere up to Rs 3 crore, however, BSNL was offering only Rs 30 lakh.

The selection process for BSNL is being done as part of restructuring to make it financially viable, as recommended by the Sam Pitroda panel. After BSNL's CMD, Kuldip Goyal retired on July 31, Gopal Das is the acting CMD.

The new CMD of telecom PSU BSNL will be hired on a contract basis with a fixed term of three years, which can be further extended for three years based on performance evaluation by an external expert group.