Mumbai: The state govt has appointed two new vice-chairpersons in the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA). Ajay Ashar, a developer from Thane and a close associate of Dy CM Shinde, was appointed as one of the two deputy chairpersons of MITRA in 2022. Officials said Ashar’s term as vice-chairperson of MITRA expired recently, and he has not been re-appointed.
NCP MLA Dilip Walse Patil and BJP MLA Rana Jagjitsingh Patil are the two new deputy chairpersons. Shiv Sena’s Dr Rajesh Kshirsagar, who is the working president of the state planning commission, has been retained as MITRA’s deputy chairperson. Kshirsagar was appointed deputy chairperson along with Ashar in 2022.
While former IAS officer Praveen Pardeshi is CEO of MITRA, the CM is the MITRA chairperson, while Dy CMs and the finance minister are co-chairpersons.
MITRA, a think tank set up along the lines of the Niti Aayog, focuses on comprehensive data analysis and makes studied decisions on various sectors.
Ashar’s dropping as deputy chairperson from the reconstituted board of MITRA is a setback for Shinde, as now the NCP and BJP nominees too are part of MITRA’s reconstituted board, while earlier only Shiv Sena nominees were part of MITRA as deputy chairpersons.
The appointment will be for a period of two years or till further orders. In Dec 2022, Ashar was appointed vice-chairman of MITRA. Ashar’s appointment to what was a cabinet rank post raised eyebrows.
“The issue of amending the existing provision regarding the appointment of two persons to the post of vice-chairman of the governing body of MITRA and prescribing the provision of appointing three persons to the post of vice-chairman was under consideration. Accordingly, the govt has now decided to appoint three persons through nomination to the post of vice-chairman of the governing body of MITRA,” a GR issued by the planning department said.
Ashar did not respond to calls and text messages from TOI on Thursday.
In Aug, MITRA, in its roadmap to a one trillion dollar economy, made a strong case for increasing investment to 37% of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) from the current rate of 25%.
MITRA, in its presentation to then CM Shinde, said that with the rise in investment, the state will have a 1.5 trillion dollar economy by 2028.
Mumbai: The state govt has appointed two new vice-chairpersons in the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA). Ajay Ashar, a developer from Thane and a close associate of Dy CM Shinde, was appointed as one of the two deputy chairpersons of MITRA in 2022. Officials said Ashar’s term as vice-chairperson of MITRA expired recently, and he has not been re-appointed.
NCP MLA Dilip Walse Patil and BJP MLA Rana Jagjitsingh Patil are the two new deputy chairpersons. Shiv Sena’s Dr Rajesh Kshirsagar, who is the working president of the state planning commission, has been retained as MITRA’s deputy chairperson. Kshirsagar was appointed deputy chairperson along with Ashar in 2022.
While former IAS officer Praveen Pardeshi is CEO of MITRA, the CM is the MITRA chairperson, while Dy CMs and the finance minister are co-chairpersons.
MITRA, a think tank set up along the lines of the Niti Aayog, focuses on comprehensive data analysis and makes studied decisions on various sectors.
Ashar’s dropping as deputy chairperson from the reconstituted board of MITRA is a setback for Shinde, as now the NCP and BJP nominees too are part of MITRA’s reconstituted board, while earlier only Shiv Sena nominees were part of MITRA as deputy chairpersons.
The appointment will be for a period of two years or till further orders. In Dec 2022, Ashar was appointed vice-chairman of MITRA. Ashar’s appointment to what was a cabinet rank post raised eyebrows.
“The issue of amending the existing provision regarding the appointment of two persons to the post of vice-chairman of the governing body of MITRA and prescribing the provision of appointing three persons to the post of vice-chairman was under consideration. Accordingly, the govt has now decided to appoint three persons through nomination to the post of vice-chairman of the governing body of MITRA,” a GR issued by the planning department said.
Ashar did not respond to calls and text messages from TOI on Thursday.
In Aug, MITRA, in its roadmap to a one trillion dollar economy, made a strong case for increasing investment to 37% of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) from the current rate of 25%.
MITRA, in its presentation to then CM Shinde, said that with the rise in investment, the state will have a 1.5 trillion dollar economy by 2028.