As the retirement of Director General of Police (DGP) Rajnish Seth approaches on December 31, veteran IPS officer Rashmi Shukla is slated to take over the role, marking a significant leadership change in the Maharashtra police force. Meanwhile, uncertainty looms over the extension for Chief Secretary Manoj Saunik, who is also set to retire on the same date.
The Eknath Shinde government has reportedly submitted a proposal for the extension of Manoj Saunik’s tenure. However, as of now, there has been no communication from the Central government regarding the approval of the extension. This uncertainty has left the state government in a position where
it may need to search for a new bureaucrat to lead the state bureaucracy.
A senior cabinet member indicated that if the proposal for Saunik’s extension is not approved, Nitin Kareer is emerging as the top contender for the position. Sujata Saunik, despite being the seniormost bureaucrat in the state, might not be considered due to being superseded by her husband, Manoj Saunik.
The upcoming leadership changes are expected to have implications for the administrative landscape in Maharashtra, and the resolution of Saunik’s extension remains a key aspect of this transition.