OFF THE RECORD review on some of the headlines…
While the code of conduct comes into force as early as today, post elections for corporations and councils all over Maharashtra, all eyes are on the IPS postings that will be taking place. But if eyes are fixed on IPS, a lot of IAS officers are too in fray wherein they have completed their term and continue and we all might see a big change in IAS too…
I really feel bad for Iqbal Singh Chahal. He won’t be retiring as the Chief Secretary of the state. When his time came to become the CS ex CS Rajesh Kumar was given extension . Chahal missed the bus there and to make matters worse, in his last months left for service he frequented Delhi a lot (don’t know why) But nevertheless, Chahal will retire as ACS home, another prestigious post.
Then I feel really sad for Bhushan Gagrani and Deepak Kapoor, who in my eyes have every quality of leading the administration. But as CM Fadnavis had quipped somewhere (I haven’t heard it from him, hence quipped), that every one whosoever is retiring, will get their shot at the CS post, remains incomplete for so many now. Bhushan Gagrani, an outstanding officer with zero controversy will retire in March 2026 and most probably he will retire as BMC chief itself.
Deepak Kapoor, another DF loyalist, will retire soon without becoming the Chief Secretary. The reason all these will miss the bus is because of Rajesh Agrawal coming back to the state after years of serving at the Centre and now he will remain the CS for a good year which is healthy for the state too. But then CM must be having something in his mind before ‘denying’ deserving candidates a shot at the Chief Secretary’s post.
I feel there will be few changes post corporation elections in Mumbai too. There are some serious contenders once Bhushan Gagrani retires from the BMC. If someone asks for my opinion, Gagrani should be retained like Praveen Pardeshi in the CMO or somewhere important in the infrastructure sector or even in Public health…Believe me this man is a man of all seasons and for everyone….Anyway, I have heard Sanjeev Jasiwal and Sanjay Mukherjee are leaving no stone unturned to impress their bosses and are in competition for the top spot for the BMC. But my guess is either of the Mhaiskar (Milind or Manisha) or Ashwini Bhide (if CM wants) will be given the responsibility at the BMC and MMRDA, where both the current bosses are bound to change for sure. Also, heard somewhere after the abrupt transfer of Amit Saini, Dr Ashwini Joshi and Vipin Sharma will be shifted too. Only two things will remain constant in the BMC–the walls of the beautiful MCGM and AMC Bangar!
In MIDC, actually a change has been predicted since the day Velarasu came here as the CEO due to the ‘baggage’ he carried with him but I am told there won’t be any change in the CEO post as Velarasu has cemented his place in the system with ‘perfection’ and friendships at the right places. No, now there aren’t any complaints of Velarasu in MIDC and no one is digging his BMC tenure work, a sweet complaint that made it to my ears is that Velrasu is often in meditation with himself these days as he just does not lift anyone’s phone calls. The other day, I had purchased a Lottery ticket in the name of Velarasu and called him frantically to tell him that his victory amount is with me, but its been 2 months now, no call has been returned, so I took that money and have kept in a kitty meant for ‘kharcha’ when transfer times come…
In CIDCO too, Vijay Singhal is in the good books of Eknath Shinde and I know Shinde will convince Fadnavis with his ‘patent’ smile to continue Singhal at CIDCO. But I am not sure about Ganesh Deshmukh. See understand for people like Ganesh Deshmukh and Vikram Kumar (MMRDA-Addl Comm), these both are people who have ruled the jungle and were the lions of their territories, now if you ask them to be deputy to someone they will do the job diligently, but again, they will not go hunting and these are times when you need hunters…(Caution: Readers please read hunting as going the extra mile to work with the skill set they possess and in not any other sense)
Saurabh Rao is doing a fabulous job at handling Thane Municipal Corporation…boss if someone can pass my message to him, please tell him whenever I meet him, I will salute him…Tell me is it easy to manage an Eknath Shinde, Naresh Mhaske, Jitendra Awhad, Pratap Sarnaik, and so many of the small players there…He and Ashutosh Dumbre (CP Thane) really take a bow…In Navi Mumbai too, Kailas Shinde heading the NMMC, is listening to Eknath Shinde diligently ‘now’. There too, managing Ganesh Naik and Ekanth Shinde at the same time is a task…really even Kailash Shinde needs standing ovation.
By the way, Aseem Gupta is also UD 1 incharge and also acting Housing Secretary, and he listens no one but to Eknath Shinde and Sanju Baba (Navin Sona)..I really love his hairdo & the attitude; it reminds me of Sanju Baba… High time we have a full time Housing Secretary now as Aseem is overburdened and with that he might make mistakes. I had heard Abha Shukla was in the fray for Housing Secretary but don’t know what happened there; also they are saying her husband Lokesh Chandra too will be shifted out of the Energy department and a good posting will be given. I feel our state should hire the likes of retired IAS Aanand Kulkarni, Subrat Ratho, Dr Nitin Kareer as advisors to CM. Imagine with these 3 experts in so many things and able partnership with Praveen Pardeshi and Bhushan Gagrani imagine the CM will be in literal sense, free from all worries. He then can straighten a few things with comfort…Not that his team is weak as of now, but the responsibility of Maharashtra is ever growing under our dynamic CM every single minute…
All said and done, people whom I meet on a daily basis or interact with are in some or the other way working for or with the government. Every one of them is going GA GA for these two bureaucrats these days. They say, Vikrant, whatever the impression of these two we all had, it has changed and how…They are dynamic, working day-in day out tirelessly, and giving results…They are Mahendra Kalyankar and Sanjeev Jaiswal. If people who matter (of every range) are praising you, Sanjeev ji and Kalyankar ji, you have arrived, but be careful, with power comes greater responsibility; and few jealous eyes are rolling for your chairs.
Vikrant Meena Hemant Joshi.
