Centre cocks a snook at Joshi8217;s proposal

MUMBAI, Oct 22: In a major setback for the Sena-BJP government, the Centre today appointed Principal Secretary Trade and Commerce Arun Mago as the new Chairman of the Mumbai Port Trust rejecting the State8217;s proposal to assign Arun Bongirwar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, to the post.

Mago, an IAS officer of the 1967 batch Maharashtra cadre, will succeed Sharad Kale, who is retiring on October 31. Kale had replaced Dinesh Afzalpurkar.

By and large, the MPT Chairman8217;s post is held by a Maharashtra cadre IAS official. As per the existing practice, the State Establishment Board SEB headed by the Chief Secretary in consultation with the Chief Minister submits a panel to the Centre on Central deputation posts. Then the decision is taken by a high-level Cabinet committee. In major cases, the Prime Minister8217;s approval is also obtained before clearing the appointment.