Maharashtra’s Chief Secretary Race Heats Up with Multiple Senior Bureaucrats in the Running
Mumbai, 12th May 2025: As Sujata Saunik prepares to retire as the chief secretary (CS) of Maharashtra on June 30, intense lobbying has begun for her successor. With Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis showing little indication of granting her an extension, over half a dozen senior bureaucrats are now in the running for the post.
Saunik’s retirement will be followed by the departures of additional chief secretary Rajesh Kumar on August 31, Rajesh Aggarwal in November 2026, and ACS (Home) I S Chahal on January 31, 2026. Bhushan Gagrani, the BMC commissioner, is considered a strong contender for the CS role, though he himself will retire in March next year. Meanwhile, other senior bureaucrats like ACS Deepak Kapoor and SVR Srinivas are also nearing their retirement dates within the next year.
The appointment of the new chief secretary is proving to be as challenging as the selection of Mumbai’s police commissioner, which also sparked much speculation. When Fadnavis chose Deven Bharti as Mumbai’s police chief, he bypassed seniority to select a candidate based on professionalism, surprising many officers who had expected the role to go to a more senior officer.
For the CS position, Fadnavis faces a similar situation, with multiple qualified candidates in contention. Senior bureaucrats suggest that whoever succeeds Saunik should be given a minimum two-year tenure to maintain stability in the administration.
DGP Rashmi Shukla, who was initially set to retire six months ago, was granted an extension by the CM as per Supreme Court guidelines. Reflecting on the upcoming transition, a former chief secretary mentioned that the government might offer positions to other senior officers who do not secure the CS post, to ensure a smooth and fair distribution of roles.
This move, the official explained, would help prevent discontent among the senior bureaucrats vying for the position while maintaining the efficiency of the state administration.
