Mumbai: Election Commission Directs Maharashtra Chief Secretary to Remove BMC Chief and Additional Commissioners

Mumbai, 19th March 2024: Although the Election Commissioner instructed the Chief Secretary (CS) of the state to dismiss I S Chahal, the civic chief, and two additional commissioners of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, along with other officials in similar positions, as of late evening on Monday, the CS’s order had not yet reached the BMC officers. Chahal himself was not in his office and claimed to be unaware of the directive. The anticipated order from the CS is expected to arrive before 6 pm on Tuesday, marking the first instance of a BMC chief being transferred following an EC mandate.

The typically bustling second floor of the BMC headquarters, where the civic chief’s office is located, was deserted on Tuesday, with only security guards and support staff present, indicating Chahal’s absence. However, the adjacent office of the joint municipal commissioner remained busy with visitors as usual, despite the implementation of a code of conduct. While news of the EC’s directive to remove three senior officers circulated rapidly, there was only subdued discussion among the employees.

In a letter addressed to the chief secretary of Maharashtra, the EC secretary conveyed that officers directly involved in elections should not remain in their current district of position if they belong to that district or have served there for three years or more by June 30, 2024. Chahal joined the BMC in May 2020 and is approaching four years of tenure.

When questioned about the order, Chahal responded that he had not received any such directive and was unaware of it. However, senior BMC officials were deliberating on potential replacements among IAS officers. “The order may arrive by tomorrow evening as per the EC’s instructions, but it will be issued by the state chief secretary. There are nine officials, including one commissioner and two additional commissioners from the BMC, so the state will need to transfer at least 10 officers even if they opt for a swap,” explained one senior official. Another officer remarked, “This is unprecedented in BMC history. Traditionally, elections are overseen by district commissioners, and the civic chief was never a target of the election commissioner. However, since last year, the commercial capital has become a political hub, prompting the election commissioner to take notice.”

Additional Commissioner P Velarasu joined the BMC in January 2020, while Ashwini Bhide became part of the corporation in May 2020 as part of the COVID-19 task force.