Newsmaker | Why Ashwini Bhide is one of Maharashtra’s most well-known officials, and now among its most influential
The new Principal Secretary to CM has spearheaded some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the state, for both MVA and Mahayuti, taking on political opposition head-on
Few women have held this post of Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister in the state, seen as one of the most influential, with CMs picking their confidants for it. (@AshwiniBhide/X)
One of Maharashtra’s most well-known bureaucrats, Ashwini Bhide hit another high on Friday, with the Devendra Fadnavis government naming her as the new Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister.
Few women have held this post in the state, seen as one of the most influential, with CMs picking their confidants for it. Bhide, 54, replaces Brijesh Singh, an IPS officer who was appointed to the post by the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government last year, making him the first police officer to become Principal Secretary to the CM.
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Many previous principal secretaries to CMs in Maharashtra have gone on to become chief secretary, the highest rank in the state bureaucracy.
With Bhide’s appointment, Devendra Fadnavis appears to be sending a message that infrastructure, which was one of the BJP’s key campaign planks, would be among the top priorities in his second term as CM. Bhide has been at the helm of some of the most ambitious and high-profile infrastructure projects in Maharashtra – from overseeing the city’s first underground Metro line to managing the expansive coastal road project along the Arabian Sea.
In another affirmation of this, Bhide will continue to hold her current charge as Managing Director of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRCL) for now.
A native of Sangli, Bhide is a 1995-batch IAS officer married to her batchmate and former bureaucrat Dr Satish Bhide. It was during her and her husband’s stint in Nagpur (2000-2003) that Bhide first came in contact with Devendra Fadnavis, who was then a first-time MLA and Mayor of Nagpur.
She served as CEO of the Nagpur Zilla Parishad before becoming deputy secretary to successive Maharashtra governors between 2004 and 2008. It was in 2008 that she joined the big league with her appointment as Joint Metropolitan Commissioner of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
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The MMRDA oversaw some major urban infrastructure projects around this time, including Eastern Freeway, Milan subway flyover, Mumbai’s skywalks, and the Mithi river clean-up. Many of these projects required relocation of people, and despite running into political ire at times, she was recognised for her ability to handle such sensitive matters with diplomacy.
In 2014, when Fadnavis became CM for the first time, he roped Bhide back into the infrastructure sector, ending her one-year stint as Secretary of the School Education Department. She was among a group of officials he handpicked at the time.
In January 2015, Bhide was appointed to the top post in the MMRCL, which was a joint venture between the Maharashtra government and Centre to construct a fully underground 33.5-km Metro corridor in one of the world’s most densely packed cities.
It was then that Bhide ran into the biggest controversy of her career, involving the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (then united), which was a part of the state government.
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Uddhav’s son Aaditya, who was seeking a political space for himself, led opposition to plans for a Metro car shed in the Aarey Colony green belt area of Mumbai. Bhide’s frequent social media posts and television interviews backing the Aarey plan as part of which 2,141 trees would be cut to build the Metro car shed further added to the Sena’s ire. As her celebrity rose, so did the backlash against her from not just Sena ranks but also environmentalists, with opponents accusing her of doing Fadnavis’s bidding.
When the BJP could not form a government after the 2019 Assembly elections as the Sena walked out on it, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government that came to power scrapped the Aarey car shed plan and shunted out Bhide.
However, in what was seen as a confirmation of her competence, she was brought back within three months by the MVA government and made Additional Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The major projects she handled in this stint included Mumbai’s ambitious coastal road.
After the MVA government fell, and was replaced by the BJP-Eknath Shinde Sena, Bhide was reappointed within 13 days as head of the Metro corporation, even as she continued in her BMC post. She was eventually transferred out of the BMC ahead of this year’s Lok Sabha elections, at the Election Commission’s request.
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Bhide remained at the helm of the MMRCL, though. And proving the Mahayuti government’s faith in her right, she delivered a completed portion of the underground Metro line – just before the Assembly elections.
Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas:
Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai.
Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC).
Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai).
Trustworthiness & Credibility
Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence.
Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers).
Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports.
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