The Maharashtra government Thursday appointed Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik as the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) chairman, two months after the appointment of a bureaucrat to the position allegedly triggered disquiet within the ruling Mahayuti coalition.
Usually, the transport minister is also given the MSRTC chairmanship. But in February, Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis appointed Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Sethi as the MSRTC chairman, overlooking Sarnaik, who belongs to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. This was the first time a bureaucrat was at the helm of the MSRTC, a post generally given to a public representative.
This led to speculation that Shinde and Sarnaik were aggrieved with the decision. There were already signs that Shinde was not pleased with portfolio allocations in the Mahayuti government, which also includes the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by fellow Deputy Chief Minister Sharad Pawar.
Sarnaik’s appointment as MSRTC chairman is seen as Fadnavis’s move to address the Shinde Sena’s discontent. Sarnaik has become the 26th chairman of the corporation, which was formed in 1960. R G Saraiya was the first chairman of MSRTC, and many senior political leaders have occupied this prestigious position.
After the appointment, Sarnaik declared his interest in improving the ST service, commonly known as the lifeline of rural and semi-urban Maharashtra. He said his priority will be to make MSRTC financially viable and enhance the overall quality of public transportation service for the commoners of the state.
“This is not only a role for me but also a valuable chance to serve the people. I commit to working to the best of my ability to serve passengers, grow the corporation, and provide convenience for citizens,” Sarnaik said.
He also thanked Chief Minister Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Shinde and Ajit Pawar for giving him this responsibility. Sarnaik said he will work towards raising the level and standard of the MSRTC bus services.
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