Rane flexes his political muscle

Author: Times News Network
Publication: The Times of India
Date: January 5, 2006

Revenue minister Narayan Rane, who has strengthened his position in the cabinet after his win in Malwan, has got principal secretary (revenue) V K Agarwal shunted to the less important planning department. Though the state government termed the transfer as a routine administrative matter, bureaucrats said that Rane did not get along well with Agarwal who went by the rule book. He had earlier asked the principal secretary (home) Neela Satyanarayan to take over the department. Finally, the government asked forests secretary S S Husain to take over revenue.

Earlier, Rane had got Sindhudurg district collector P T Nalawade transferred as he had gone to meet Shiv Sena MPs in Sindhudurg much against the minister's wishes. As guardian minister of Sindhudurg, Rane had asked the government to replace Nalawade with a relatively junior officer Vijaya Bidari.

Though the government transferred 16 officials, the post for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has been vacant for the last two months. The post had fallen vacant following the appointment of Suresh Joshi as information commissioner. It is said that a lot of IAS officials are lobbying for this high profile post.

Sources said that energy and environment secretary I B P Pandey was shunted as MD of Maharashtra Petrochemicals Limited after he was found inept in handling several issues such as the ban on plastic. The state has, now appointed MSEB holding company chairperson Jayant Kawale to this sensitive post and has placed Bhagwan Sahai as MSEB chairperson.

Two months ago, IAS official Uttam Khobragade was transferred: as secretary (textiles) from the managing director, State Transport Corporation post. But Khobragade, who is in the good books of the Congress-led DF government, stayed his· transfer. He will now head the animal husbandry; dairy development and fisheries department.

As per orders issued on Wednesday; postings of other IAS officials include (new posts in brackets): J P Dange (labour), J S Sahani MD, SIC OM, Rajeev Jalota, CEO, Maharashtra industrial development corporation, Satish Gavai (commissioner, lotteries), Mukhesh Khullar, secretary protocol, Sharwareee Gokhale, principal secretary (environment), K Shivaji, devpt commissioner, Ranjana Sinna, secretary textiles, S V R Srinivas, MD, seeds corporation.

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