Mumbai Confidential: Will City Get Its First Woman Police Chief? OSD Deadlock, and Ministerial Controversies Simmer

Mumbai, Maharashtra:  As the current Mumbai Police Commissioner prepares to retire by the end of this month, speculation is rife over his successor. At a recent private gathering, an influential figure hinted that a woman officer might take charge, continuing the trend of women holding top administrative posts in Maharashtra — including the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP).

Meanwhile, over 100 days since the formation of the government, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) is yet to clear the appointments of several personal secretaries and Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) for ministers. Senior ministers have reportedly told the CMO they will only work with officers of their choosing, creating a political deadlock.

In another corner of the state’s political landscape, agriculture ministers continue to court controversy. BJP’s Manikrao Kokate has drawn criticism for stating that farmers misuse agriculture funds for their children's weddings. This follows a series of insensitive remarks from his predecessors, including Abdul Sattar and Dhananjay Munde, triggering concern over the government’s approach to agrarian issues. Kokate, already under fire for a housing fraud case, may face further backlash for his anti-farmer rhetoric.