X: @vivekbhavsar
Today, I am not going to write about the ongoing disputes between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena or between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Maharashtra politics. Neither will I discuss the ongoing conversations between the BJP and MNS. Instead, today’s topic is about Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stepping into the role of a strict headmaster and Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, the “Hunterwali Bai,” as they take measures to bring discipline to the Mantralaya, the state, and the administration.
The term “Hunterwali Bai” should not be taken in a negative sense. People above 60-70 years of age may recognize this reference. Long ago, the Hindi film industry had a beautiful and intelligent actress named Fearless Nadia, whose film Hunterwali was a massive hit in its time. I have deliberately used this term in the sense of a strict disciplinarian woman.
Cleaning Up the System
Coming to the main point, after Devendra Fadnavis took charge as Chief Minister, there were initial disputes between him and Eknath Shinde, which still persist to some extent. These disputes delayed the cabinet expansion. However, that is history now, and with the full cabinet in place, Fadnavis has begun to take firm control of the administration. More accurately, he has started a “clean-up” operation.
Under Eknath Shinde’s leadership, the overwhelming crowd at Mantralaya and Vidhan Bhavan made it extremely difficult for government employees, especially officers, to carry out their daily work. On some cabinet meeting days, nearly 17,000 visitors entered Mantralaya—an unprecedented record. A similar situation prevailed at Vidhan Bhavan during assembly sessions. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis once referred to this chaotic crowd as a “bazaar” (market) and has since implemented strict entry rules to shut down this “market.”
Now, entering Mantralaya is no longer as easy as before. Even the approximately 10,000 employees and officers working there must pass through a facial recognition system to gain entry. General visitors still receive entry passes, but in the near future, even their access to Mantralaya will become increasingly restricted. The system is now recording visitor data, tracking how often a person visits. If someone visited yesterday and returns today, they are immediately flagged, and entry is denied. Such incidents have already occurred.
If this electronic system is genuinely meant to reduce unnecessary crowding and enable officers to work efficiently, it is a welcome move. But is this situation really as severe as portrayed? Why do common citizens feel the need to visit Mantralaya in the first place? Have the IAS officers, who live in government quarters near Mantralaya and advise on such policies, ever considered this question?
Reintroduce Lokshahi Din
Around a decade ago, the state used to observe Lokshahi Din (Democracy Day) at the district level. Citizens would take their complaints to the district collector’s office, where many of their issues would be resolved. If unresolved, the matter would be escalated to the divisional level and, as a last resort, to Mantralaya. If this initiative was discontinued simply because it was introduced by the Congress government, it is a matter of regret. The Fadnavis administration should restart Lokshahi Din to automatically reduce the pressure on Mantralaya.
Rs 500 for Entry to Mantralaya?
Chief Minister, while ordinary citizens wait in long queues for two to three hours just to get an entry pass, some unscrupulous government vehicle drivers have reportedly been allowing visitors to enter Mantralaya for a bribe of ₹500. Yes, this is the truth. Since government vehicles have entry permits, some drivers have turned this into a business. Visitors are contacted in advance, picked up near LIC, and transported inside Mantralaya without any scrutiny. These drivers, too, are middlemen (brokers). When will an investigation be conducted into this racket?
Relax the One-Office Entry Rule
Even if citizens manage to enter Mantralaya, there is no guarantee that they will get to meet the concerned officers. After lunch or when meeting friends, many officers are often seen passing time outside Mantralaya, near MLA quarters, or even at food stalls near Express Towers. I am not criticizing officers, but pointing out their indifference toward public grievances.
Adding to this, the new rule states that visitors can only enter one office per visit. If someone from Kolhapur, Chandrapur, Sindhudurg, Dhule, or Nandurbar has multiple issues that require meetings with different officers or ministers, how many days can they afford to stay in Mumbai? Will they be able to bear the costs? And even if they stay, will their problems be resolved? This rule must be reconsidered.
Not Everyone Is a Middleman
While imposing restrictions on Mantralaya entry, Chief Minister Fadnavis repeatedly used the term dalal (broker). However, the so-called small brokers operating inside Mantralaya are nothing compared to the big liaison officers who operate at ministers’ residences. Ministers roll out the red carpet for them.
Ordinary visitors cannot carry more than ₹10,000 in cash inside Mantralaya, but these liaison officers openly bring in bags containing crores to ministers’ bungalows. The Chief Minister is well aware of this. So why crack down only on the small fish?
Another issue worth mentioning is the “consultants” who facilitate large government contracts. These individuals, driving luxury cars, enter Mantralaya late at night without any scrutiny. Unlike ordinary visitors, they face no facial recognition scans or entry pass verification because their access is pre-approved via phone calls from ministerial or secretarial offices. Is the government’s intent to ensure only they can engage in lobbying while barring small-time political workers from minor transactions?
Why Ban Medicines?
People from suburban areas like Vasai, Virar, Badlapur, Kasara, and Panvel, as well as from across Maharashtra, visit Mantralaya for various reasons. Many of them suffer from ailments like diabetes or hypertension, necessitating medications and water bottles, which they are forced to leave outside.
Police officers merely follow orders, but has the Chief Minister or Chief Secretary considered whether every visitor enters Mantralaya with suicide in mind? While incidents of suicide have occurred in the past, they were largely due to prolonged injustice at the district level. Not everyone visiting Mantralaya is suicidal. The rule against carrying medicines should be relaxed.
Don’t View Officers With Suspicion
CM Fadnavis’ campaign to clean up the system is commendable, especially his effort to eliminate corrupt officers while selecting efficient ones. A senior RSS functionary was entrusted with the task of interviewing nearly 2,000 officers to determine their eligibility as private secretaries, special duty officers, and personal assistants to ministers. This is a welcome step.
However, Fadnavis’ sweeping allegations that officers who previously worked under ministers had ties with brokers were unfair. Branding all officers as corrupt is not a sign of good governance. The state’s development depends on the cooperation of honest and experienced officers. While corrupt officers should certainly be removed, capable ones must be given opportunities.
Expectations from a Future Prime Minister
Devendraji, people in Maharashtra and across India see you as a future Prime Minister. You have made visible changes in yourself—losing weight, altering your speaking style, and showing greater composure. Your statement, “I have come to bring change, not to take revenge,” has reassured the people of this state.
Disciplining the administration is necessary, and imposing restrictions on Mantralaya entry is justified. But Mantralaya is not a high-security defense facility where citizens should be treated with extreme scrutiny. Ministers, MLAs, and officers are public servants, and people have the right to meet them.
The voters have placed their trust in you and your party, giving you a full mandate for five years. Please do not forget this. A famous English saying goes, “Rules are meant to guide, not to oppress.” Keep that in mind. Wishing you success!
(The author Vivek Bhavsar is Editor-in-Chief of TheNews21)
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