Day after EC directive, Maharashtra suggests panel to choose new BMC chief

The ECI had sought the compliance report in the matter by 5 pm on Tuesday. A senior government officer said, “The government has complied with the ECI’s directive and sent a panel of three IAS officers. The ECI will convey the decision.” The officer clarified that till the ECI’s reply comes, Chahal will continue to be the BMC Commissioner.

Earlier, following the ECI’s order, the urban development department Tuesday transferred several additional municipal commissioners, deputy commissioners and additional CEOs of various civic bodies with immediate effect. The department has asked them to be relieved from their post immediately.

Ganesh Deshmukh, municipal commissioner of Panvel municipal corporation and Vidya Gaikwad of Jalgaon municipal corporation were also transferred on Tuesday.

The state government has also transferred Additional Municipal Commissioners of BMC, Ashwini Bhide and P Velarasu.

Bhide has been appointed as the Managing Director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation while Velarasu has been kept on waiting. Thane Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Banger will replace Velarasu while Amit Saini will hold the post vacated by Bhide.

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar will now be the cooperation commissioner. In other transfers, Sanjay Meena will be the new Commissioner of Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority, replacing Manojkumar Suryavanshi, who has been kept on waiting.

Ankit will be the new CEO of Buldhana Zilla Parishad, while Shubham Gupta and Vishal Narwade will be the CEOs of Jalgaon and Dhule respectively.

The ECI letter on March 18 stated that on December 21, 2023, it wrote to the state government and it was conveyed that no officer connected directly with elections shall be allowed to continue in the present district (revenue district) of posting, or posted in home district or completed three years or completing three years before June 30, 2024.

“Under Para 5 (ii) of this letter, it has been clarified that these instructions shall also cover the officer deputed in municipal corporations ie municipal commissioners/additional and deputy commissioners are also covered under the transfer/posting policy,” the letter from ECI said.

It added, “The Government of Maharashtra did not comply with the order and instead vide its letter No. AEO-1023/C.R.523/2023/X dated 15/01/2024 sought clarification if these instructions are also applicable to the divisional commissioners, municipal commissioners, additional commissioners, chief executive officer of zilla parishads, etc.”

On February 22, the ECI clarified that municipal commissioners and additional municipal commissioner are covered under para 5.2 of ECI instruction dated 21/12/2023.
It was also clarified that divisional commissioners and chief executive officers of zila parishad are also covered under commission transfer/posting instruction in case they are supervisory officers in the direct chain of command of the election related officers/employees.

“However, till late state government of Maharashtra has not transferred some of the municipal commissioners and additional municipal commisioners/ deputy municipal commissioners who are covered under Commission’s transfer/pesting policy. Now, therefore, the Commission conveys displeasure to the Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra,” the letter said and directed to transfer Chahal as well as all other officials.