Mumbai : Three bureaucrats are in the fray for the post of Maharashtra Chief Secretary as incumbent CS Nitin Kareer (IAS: 1988: MH) is due to retire on March 31, 2024. The top contender is Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sujata Saunik (IAS: 1987: MH), who was superseded twice, once by her husband Manoj Saunik (Retd IAS: 1987: MH) and on the second occasion by Kareer. The other two contenders for the post are Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Rajesh Kumar Meena (IAS: 1988: MH) and Additional Chief Secretary (Chief Minister’s office) Iqbal Singh Chahal (IAS: 1989: MH).
Kareer was appointed after Manoj Saunik retired as CS on December 31, 2023. The state government has so far not sent any proposal to the centre for his extension. If a proposal is indeed sent and approved, he will continue in the post. Else, the government will have to pick his successor from among the three officers in the fray. The top contender Saunik is due to retire in June 2025.
