Mumbai: Heading the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has begun reshuffling bureaucrats appointed by his predecessor Devendra Fadnavis led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena Yuti (alliance) government. However, in a major appointment, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has appointed senior bureaucrat of 1990 batch of IAS Dr Bhushan Gagrani as Principal Secretary to CM. Dr Gagrani is known as a close confidante of former CM Fadnavis. However, he is also a close confidant of senior Sena minister Subhash Desai.
CM Thackeray transferred seven bureaucrats on Monday. Vikas Kharage (IAS of batch 1994) is the second bureaucrat who is also posted as Principal Secretary to CM. Kharage had proved himself as the best performer in 13 crore tree plantation scheme – a dream project of former Forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar. Kharage is soft-spoken and low profile officer in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). However, whispers in the corridors of Mantralaya, are that some officers have doubts whether Kharage would be able to take decisions on critical issues in the CMO like what Praveen Pradeshi had taken during his tenure in CMO.
Dr Gagrani is presently working with CMO as principal secretary since Fadnavis era. Though Dr Gagrani is shrewd in terms of administration, he has very good at maintaining good Public Relations with the corporate sector. He has earlier handled the Industries department. His posting would be beneficial to CM Thackeray to promote his ambitious ‘Thali (dish) in Rs 10’ scheme.
A senior Shiv Sena leader had disclosed that Uddhav wants to run the Thali scheme with support from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund. Dr Gagrani would prove the appropriate choice in the CMO.
According to sources, Matoshree wanted Sitaram Kunte (IAS of 1985 batch) be Principal Secretary in CMO. However, Kunte wants to become Chief Secretary of the state. It may also possible that Praveen Pardeshi (IAS of 1985 batch) Municipal Commissioner o BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) would be transferred if Mantralaya probably in finance department. Whereas, Dr Nitin Kareer, Principal Secretary in the Urban Development Department would be posted as BMC commissioner.
