Navi Mumbai civic chief gets Fadnavis backing; Sena miffed

Amid wrangling on the no-trust motion passed by NCP-ruled Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) against its Commissioner, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today indicated support for the "efficient" official while ally Shiv Sena wanted him to be removed.
Fadnavis, who has to now take a decision on removing the civic Commissioner, Tukaram Mundhe, said the state government cannot allow such resolutions to be implemented as he heaped praises on the civil servant who is considered upright.
On the other hand, BJP ally Shiv Sena asked the Chief Minister to give up his "stubborn stand" on the issue and go by the will of the elected representatives of the civic body.

"I think, Tukaram Mundhe is a very efficient officer. He tried to change the systems which were not legal and were leading to corruption. That has made some people restless and they have come together to remove him," Fadnavis told PTI.
"There are some issues about his communication with the elected representatives. I have told him that in a democracy, one should respect the elected representatives. If demands are illegal, they should not be attended to but otherwise, they (the elected representatives) should get respect and he has understood it," he said.
The Chief Minister advised the corporators, who have expressed their lack of faith in the IAS officer, who has launched a demolition drive against illegal structures in the satellite city, to revisit their stand.

"I think, the corporators who supported the resolution (no-confidence motion) should rethink about it and allow the Commissioner to work in a transparent and an efficient way," he maintained.

Earlier this week, a no-confidence motion was passed by
the Navi Mumbai Corporators against Mundhe with support from the ruling NCP and opposition Shiv Sena and Congress.
BJP, the party to which Fadnavis belongs, however, opposed the motion.
The corporators, barring those from the BJP, charged Mundhe with "undemocratic functioning" even though his drive against illegal constructions has reportedly made him popular in the fast-growing city which is witnessing a realty boom.

The rare move by the civic body has made the role of Fadnavis, who holds the Urban Development portfolio, crucial as it is for him to take a decision on removing the 2005-batch civil servant.
Navi Mumbai Mayor Sudhakar Sonawane had demanded immediate removal of the officer, alleging that he had been exercising his powers "autocratically".
Joining the issue, the Shiv Sena asked Fadnavis to take the "democratic route" and remove the officer rather than being "unnecessarily stubborn" on the issue.
"In a democracy, majority holds immense significance and the no-confidence motion has been passed with majority. Thus, the Chief Minister should not show unnecessary stubbornness. If all elected representatives have stood up against the civic chief, the state government has to respect their decision," the Sena today said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

"An officer is a representative of the government who has to abide by the Constitution. Even the Chief Minister talks respectfully with the members of the opposition parties. Elected representatives have an immense responsibility towards the people and it is not right to try and get them in trouble by using your position," the Sena said.
The NCP leaders have demanded that Fadnavis act upon the motion as it reflected the "majority will" in the municipal corporation.