Confusion In Maharashtra As GAD And UDD Issue Conflicting Orders For BEST General Manager Post

Mumbai: In a classic case of bureaucratic confusion, the coveted post of General Manager (GM) of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) Undertaking became the centre of a tug-of-war between two Maharashtra government departments, resulting in administrative chaos and political barbs.

On Tuesday, two separate departments — the General Administration Department (GAD) under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Urban Development Department (UDD) helmed by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde — issued conflicting orders appointing two different IAS officers to the same post. The GAD named Ashish Sharma, currently heading the state GST department, while the UDD moved to appoint Ashwini Joshi, Additional Municipal Commissioner in the BMC.

The contradiction sent shockwaves through the bureaucracy. By Wednesday evening, neither officer had taken charge, deepening the confusion. It was only late in the evening that the BEST Undertaking issued a press release confirming that Ashish Sharma had assumed charge.

The GM's post had fallen vacant after SVR Shrinivas, who held the role as additional charge while serving as CEO of the Dharavi Redevelopment Authority, retired on July 31. The delay in naming his successor triggered a hurried scramble for a replacement. An official at Mantralaya insisted that Joshi’s appointment was never officially issued.

“The order was merely drafted to ensure someone senior was available to deal with the looming threat of a workers' strike,” the official said.

The GAD had reportedly instructed Shrinivas to hand over charge in consultation with K.H. Govindraj, Principal Secretary in the UDD. But the UDD remained silent until Tuesday, when it suddenly moved to draft Joshi’s appointment order. The GAD, acting swiftly, issued Sharma's appointment instead. According to insiders, Ashwini Joshi regularly oversees BEST matters in her BMC role and is the default go-to during transitions. Meanwhile, Ashish Sharma has already been residing in the official GM residence near Electric House — a legacy from his previous stint as Principal Secretary to then Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

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This muddled affair prompted a sarcastic response from NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar, who quipped about the state of governance under the ruling dispensation.

Ultimately, Sharma emerged as the government's final choice — but not before Maharashtra’s bureaucracy played out a revealing round of musical chairs.