Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 6: A bizarre bureaucratic standoff has erupted in Maharashtra after two IAS officers were simultaneously appointed as the General Manager of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), exposing apparent fault lines between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

What began as a routine administrative posting turned into a spectacle on Wednesday when conflicting orders were issued within hours—each from rival departments of the same government. The result: two separate appointments for the same high-stakes post, triggering political backlash and accusations of a “government in disarray.”

Clashing Orders, Same Day

The Urban Development Department, led by Deputy CM Shinde, first issued an order naming Ashwini Joshi, Additional Municipal Commissioner of BMC, as the interim GM of BEST following the retirement of S.V.R. Srinivas.

But before the ink could dry, the General Administration Department (GAD) under CM Fadnavis appointed Asheesh Sharma, Maharashtra’s GST Commissioner, to the very same post—also on an additional charge basis.

With no official explanation for the double appointment or the lack of coordination, government insiders were left scrambling. A senior GAD officer, speaking anonymously, said, “Typically, appointments like these are processed through GAD and cleared by the CM. What went wrong here is unclear.”

Power Vacuum at BEST

This isn’t the first time BEST—Mumbai’s lifeline public transport operator—has found itself in leadership limbo. Since the controversial transfer of GM Anil Diggikar in December 2024 after a bus accident in Kurla, the post has been shuffled between officials on temporary charges.

An earlier plan to appoint Harshdeep Kamble was shelved without notice. Then came Srinivas in February 2025, now followed by two contenders — Joshi and Sharma — for a single chair.

BEST is currently grappling with serious issues: financial distress, outdated fleets, and declining service standards, despite serving over 2.5 million commuters daily and operating as a power supplier to Mumbai citizens.

Political Fallout: ‘Double Engine, Double Trouble’

The dual appointments have triggered fierce criticism from opposition leaders, who described the episode as a reflection of a deeply fractured government.

Aaditya Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT) posted on X (formerly Twitter):

“BEST is being sabotaged by the state government. What’s worse is the complete breakdown of communication between the CM and ‘Gaddaarnath Mindhe’.

Shouldn’t the GAD handle appointments? Why are we being subjected to this ego war?”

He went further, calling it the “most corrupt and incompetent government Maharashtra has seen.”

Congress MPCC president Harshwardhan Sapkal mocked the alliance saying:

“1 post, 2 orders, 2 leaders — is this a double gang war of the double engine sarkar?”

NCP-SP leader Rohit Pawar sarcastically praised the alliance’s “BEST coordination”, writing:

“As soon as the GM post fell vacant, a race began between CM Fadnavis and DCM Shinde to install ‘their person’. Now the only question left is whether the BEST office will require two chairs for one desk.”

No End in Sight

With both departments yet to retract or reconcile their orders, confusion reigns. The BEST administration awaits clarity, while employees and Mumbaikars are caught in the political crossfire of Maharashtra’s governing alliance.

This incident not only highlights administrative disarray but also signals a growing rift within the ruling MahaYuti coalition, where power struggles now appear to trump public service delivery.