In the first significant sign of dissonance within the Maharashtra government, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in a move aimed at asserting his authority, decided to strip the Shiv Sena-led Transport Ministry of control over the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). This decision was reportedly triggered by Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who was one of the most vocal advocates for the Shiv Sena and BJP alliance. Sarnaik, known for his flamboyant style, found himself at the centre of the fallout from Fadnavis's move. On Thursday, the Mahayuti government appointed an IAS officer to head the MSRTC, a position traditionally held by the transport minister or an elected representative since the corporation's establishment in 1960. This decision is believed to be a response to CM's dissatisfaction with Sarnaik's style of functioning. Sarnaik, a four-time MLA from Ovala-Majiwada in Thane district — a constituency neighbouring Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde's — has a history of ruffling political feathers throughout his four-decade career. Known for his ambition, Sarnaik worked as a rickshaw driver in Thane from 1984 to 1989 before accumulating substantial wealth in the booming real estate market in the region in the past two decades. He began his political journey in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), where he became a corporator in the Thane Municipal Corporation. In 2008, after a perceived slight from the NCP over the appointment of the Leader of the Opposition in the corporation, he joined the Sena. Sarnaik is also remembered for his transactional approach to politics and his public gesture of gifting a diamond-studded mobile phone to party leader Ajit Pawar that year. His political fortunes soared after his move to the Sena and he was elected MLA from Ovala-Majiwada seat. Sarnaik also established himself as a major player in the real estate sector through his Vihang Group, which operates in the real estate and hospitality industries around Thane and Mumbai. His connections in Bollywood and his flamboyant persona further cemented his presence in both political and social circles, including the large-scale Dahi Handi celebrations he organised in Thane. With the formation of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Sarnaik found himself in trouble as he fell under the radar of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in November 2020 over allegations of kickbacks of more than Rs 7 crore from Topsgrup, linked to a security contract with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). Sarnaik became a vocal advocate for a Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, urging the party to sever ties with the Congress-NCP coalition. In June 2021, he wrote to then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, urging the Sena to reconcile with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He claimed that such a move would end the harassment faced by him and other leaders the central agencies were investigating. His call for a shift to the BJP was one of many factors leading to the split in the Shiv Sena, with Sarnaik emerging as a key supporter of the Eknath Shinde faction. Although Sarnaik played a crucial role in facilitating the defection of Sena MLAs to Shinde’s camp, he was not initially accommodated in the new government. After persistent efforts, he was appointed as the Transport Minister in the Fadnavis-led government that took office in December 2024. In the past couple of months, Sarnaik became more prominent in the media, announcing initiatives such as a new traffic policy and his plans to legalise bike taxis. Last weekend, he visited Karnataka to study the operations of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, praising its efficiency. Just four days after his visit, however, Fadnavis's decision to appoint an IAS officer, Sanjay Sethi, as MSRTC chairman marks a setback for Sarnaik. The move, seen as a message from the CM asserting his control, is believed to have undermined Sarnaik’s authority as the position has historically been occupied by a political appointee. Despite the blow, Sarnaik has maintained a confident stance, claiming that Sethi’s appointment is temporary and that the position will eventually return to a political appointee. "As head of the Transport Ministry, I remain in charge of the entire organisation, including MSRTC. All decisions will be routed through me," he said on Friday.
