MUMBAI: The state government is likely to announce transfers of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) commissioner I S Chahal and Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) commissioner Vikram Kumar soon. Others officers up for transfers from BMC are additional municipal commissioners (AMC) P Velarasu and Ashwini Bhide, as they have completed over three years in their positions.State chief electoral officer Shrikant Deshpande confirmed the move citing the transfer policy and added, “We received a letter from the election commission on February 22, which has been forwarded to the general administration of state government for further action.”Additional chief secretary, in-charge of general administration department, Nitin Gadre, however chose not to comment on EC’s letter.
Chahal was appointed municipal commissioner on May 8, 2020, replacing Praveen Pardeshi. Pardeshi was shunted from the post after he courted controversy for alleged mis-management during the Covid-19 pandemic. Soon after Chahal slipped into the position of BMC chief, he projected himself as top Covid-19 warrior. Shiv Sena leaders in the then ruling MVA government had instructed Chahal not to take orders from Eknath Shinde, then UD minister who was at loggerheads with Aaditya Thackeray. However, after the change of government, Chahal, an IAS officer from the 1989 batch, was retained in the position.(In put from HT)
