Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 7: In a strategic administrative reshuffle, the Maharashtra government has transferred seven senior IAS officers, assigning them to key roles across the state, as part of preparations for both the 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik and the upcoming local body elections.
As per the official notification:
• M. Devendra Singh, the current Collector of Ratnagiri, has been appointed as Member Secretary of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in Mumbai.
• Shekhar Singh, Municipal Commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad, will now take over as Commissioner of the Kumbh Mela in Nashik, a crucial role ahead of the mega religious event.
• Jalaj Sharma, Collector of Nashik, becomes the Metropolitan Commissioner of the Nashik Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA).
• Ayush Prasad, now Collector of Jalgaon, will replace Sharma as Collector of Nashik.
• Rohan Ghughe, CEO of Zilla Parishad, Thane, steps in as the new Collector of Jalgaon.
• Sanjay Kolte, MD of Shivshahi Punarvasan Prakalp Ltd (SRPL) in Mumbai, will serve as Sugar Commissioner in Pune, filling a previously vacant position.
• Manoj Jindal, Joint MD of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), has been posted as the Collector of Ratnagiri.
These appointments follow a recent high-level review chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who stressed the importance of early planning for the Kumbh Mela, calling it not just a logistical task but a reflection of India’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
The reshuffle also comes at a politically sensitive time, with local body elections expected post-Diwali. With the state under bureaucratic administration in many urban and rural local bodies, these new postings could influence electoral preparedness and implementation.
The Supreme Court has directed Maharashtra to conduct elections in 29 municipal corporations, 32 Zilla Parishads, 248 municipal councils, and 336 Panchayat Samitis by January 31, 2026, adding urgency to the current administrative moves.