X: @vivekbhavsar
Mumbai: With civic elections, including the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, expected in November this year, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is set to initiate a major bureaucratic reshuffle to align governance with his economic and political priorities. The reshuffle is aimed at fast-tracking infrastructure development and strengthening administrative execution in key urban centers.
The recent appointment of retired IAS officer Praveen Singh Pardeshi (He took voluntary retirement in 2021) as Chief Economic Advisor to the CM underscores Fadnavis’ intent to rope in experienced and reform-minded professionals to drive his vision of making Maharashtra a $1 trillion economy.
To support this agenda, significant changes at the top administrative level are on the cards.
Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik (1987 batch) is scheduled to retire in June and is expected to be replaced by Additional Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar (Meena) (1988 batch), who is likely to be appointed the next Chief Secretary.
ACS (Housing) Valsa Nair will also retire on June 30 and is expected to be succeeded by Deepak Kapoor (1991 batch), an officer with a proven track record in urban and infrastructure governance.
In a politically significant move, Sanjeev Jaiswal (1996 batch), currently Vice President and CEO of MHADA, is expected to be elevated and transferred as Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department (UD-1). With the BMC elections in sight, Fadnavis is keen to speed up infrastructure projects in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Thane, and other major municipal corporations—and Jaiswal, considered a close confidante of the CM, is likely to play a key role in that push.
On the other hand, SVR Srinivas is the CEO of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), an autonomous body under the Housing Department. He also serves as the Chairman of Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt. Ltd. (NMDPL), a joint venture between the state government and the Adani Group.
Given this significant responsibilities and central role in overseeing the ₹3 lakh crore Dharavi redevelopment initiative, it is plausible that the government may consider extending his tenure. However, until an official announcement is made, his extension remains speculative.
These expected changes reflect a calculated move by Fadnavis to place trusted and competent officers in strategic positions to execute his dual agenda: economic transformation and electoral preparedness.
