After blowing hot and cold since the declaration of the Maharashtra assembly election results on October 19, the Shiv Sena on Monday chose to counsel the new and first-ever BJP Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on matters related to governance of Mumbai municipality.
The Sena, in coalition with the BJP, rules the cash-rich Mumbai Municipality which has an annual budget of around Rs. 30,000 crores.
The Sena mouth-piece Saamna deemed it necessary to devote its editorial in the Monday’s edition on the proposed appointment of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Mumbai.
Responding to the proposal, the Saamna editorial said that it would undermine the rights of the corporation and leave it at the mercy of the CM's office.
“All big cities have similar set of problems. They are facing the huge inflow of migrants and civic amenities are compromised. How will the appointment of CEO help in such scenario?” asked the editorial.
'Consult us'
It said the CM must take Sena’s opinion into count while taking decisions with respect to Mumbai. “Mumbai feeds the country, but who will feed Mumbai? Appointment of CEO won’t achieve anything.”
The Sena advised Mr. Fadnavis to instead give back the rights of Mumbai Municipality, which the successive Congress Governments have curtailed. “The CEO won’t be necessary if that happens,” claimed the editorial.
“Mumbai gives around Rs 1.75 lakh crore in the form taxes to the country. What do we get in return? Instead such CEOs will be stamped on us,” it said.
Though Mr. Fadnavis has not officially announced his plan to appoint a CEO, there have been indications from government quarters that an IAS officer of the rank of Additional Chief Secretary could be appointed to the post.
The CEO’s main job is to ensure better co-ordination among government agencies operating within the city. There are more than 10 governmental agencies such as Mumbai Municipality, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, MHADA, Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), various developmental authorities dedicated to particular areas in Mumbai, Railways, Mumbai Port Trust, Defence etc are active in Mumbai.
A section within the Sena has said that any such plan to appoint a CEO is an effort to separate Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, from the rest of Maharashtra.
