Madan likely to replace Mehta in BMC

Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta has been selected for deputation in the Central government and would resume at the office of Venkaiah Naidu, Union minister for urban development, after May 20.

Meanwhile, there is a race within bureaucrats for wanting to become the next Municipal commissioner (MC). Metropolitan commissioner UPS Madan is the most likely candidate for the post.

The Appointments Committee of the Union cabinet on Thursday has approved the empanelment of the officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) for appointment to the posts of secretary or equivalent to secretary at the Centre.

Of the total 83 IAS officers selected for deputation at the Centre, six are from Maharashtra cadre.

Mehta, Ajay Bhushan Pandey (Chief Executive Officer of Unique Identification Authority of IndiaUIDAI), Malini Shankar (Director General of Shipping), Bhagwan Sahai (Additional Chief Secretary, administrative reforms, General Administration Department-GAD), Sanjay Bhatia (Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust) and Mukesh Khullar (Principle Secretary (Services) at GAD) are the bureaucrats who are empanelled for Central government service.

Mehta is from the 1984 batch whereas Madan is from the 1983 batch. According to an official from GAD, Madan is the senior-most IAS officer and a confidante of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

He is most likely to be the next MC of BMC.

Dinesh Kumar Jain (Additional chief secretary, finance), Medha Gadgil (Additional chief secretary, medical education) and Sudhirkumar Srivastava (Additional chief secretary, Home) are other aspirants for the post.

Of the total 83 IAS officers selected for deputation at the Centre, six are from Maharashtra cadre.