Will Mumbai get its first woman BMC chief? Ashwini Bhide leads the race; decision today

MUMBAI: With BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani's scheduled retirement on March 31, a senior cabinet minister said his successor will likely be appointed on Monday.

Gagrani is unlikely to get an extension. The minister said IAS officers Ashwini Bhide, Sanjay Mukherjee, Aseem Gupta and Milind Mhaiskar are in the running for the post. "The CM will take the final decision on Monday."

Bhide, Mukherjee and Gupta had earlier served as additional municipal commissioners in BMC. Mhaiskar, additional chief secretary (ACS) in public works and forest departments, hasn't worked in the civic body before.

Were Bhide to be appointed, not only would she get to serve a full three-year term before her retirement in 2030, but she would also become the first woman BMC commissioner. The 1995 batch IAS officer is posted as ACS in the CM's office and is also MMRCL's managing director. She has led major infrastructure projects, like Metro line 3. As additional municipal commissioner, she played a crucial role in executing the Coastal Road project.

Mukherjee, from the 1996 batch, is currently MMRDA metropolitan commissioner. Known as ‘infrastructure man', he has led key projects like Atal Setu, Metro lines, several flyovers and bridges in MMR, and BMC projects, including critical water supply works, as additional municipal commissioner.

Gupta, from the 1994 batch, is posted as ACS to deputy CM Eknath Shinde and holds the charge of urban development and housing departments.

Gagrani was appointed BMC chief in March 2024. The Mahayuti govt had in the recent past appointed women as heads of the state bureaucracy and the police force—Rashmi Shukla served as Maharashtra's first woman DGP from Jan 2024 to Jan 3 this year and Sujata Saunik as the first woman chief secretary from 2024 till her retirement last June.