Rajesh Patil new PCMC administrator, ruling BJP says will keep an eye on him

Civic officials said this was the first time in the history of the municipal corporation that an administrator has been appointed since the first civic general elections in 1986.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Mar 4, 2022 08:47 AM IST

PCMC, PCMC administrator, Rajesh Patil, Pimri Chinchwad, Pune, Pune news, Indian express, Indian express news, Pune latest news

Rajesh Patil’s appointment came on Thursday.

With civic elections delayed and the term of present civic general body coming to end on March 13, state government on Thursday issued an order appointing Municipal Commissioner Rajesh Patil as administrator who will be the sole authority for taking policy decisions and financial decisions from March 14. The decision to appoint Patil as the administrator has triggered a verbal duel between the ruling BJP and the opposition NCP, both alleging that he favours the other.

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Civic officials said this was the first time in the history of the municipal corporation that an administrator has been appointed since the first civic general elections in 1986. “After the municipal corporation came into being, civic elections have never been delayed and so, an administrator was never required,” said a senior civic official.

While the municipal commissioner did not issue a statement over his appointment, Additional Municipal Commissioner Vikas Dhakane said, “All the powers of the civic general body meeting regarding policy decisions will rest with him. Similarly, he will have the financial powers which are vested in the civic standing committee.”

The appointment of Patil, who is an Orissa cadre IAS officer, triggered a verbal battle between the BJP and NCP. The BJP alleged that since Patil has, in the past, favoured the NCP, they will watch every action of his carefully. “If he does not take decision in public interest, we will seek his transfer and action against him,” said Namdeo Dhake, BJP House leader in PCMC.

Pimpri-Chinchwad BJP president Mahesh Landge said, “Since the government has taken a decision to appoint Patil as the administrator, we expect that he will function with impartiality. He should take all his decision in the interest of the people…We hope he will not be guided by any political leader and will not buckle under any pressure.”

NCP chief spokesperson Yogesh Behl said, “The BJP’s contention that the commissioner has favoured NCP in the past has no basis…In fact, we had raised several issues regarding corruption by the BJP, but he did not take any action on our complaint. In this case, we can always accuse him of favouring the BJP…It is the state government’s prerogative who it wants to appoint as the administrator.”

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

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