Centre appoints Sanjeev Khirwar as MCD commissioner; Officer earlier linked to stadium dog walk row
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday appointed senior IAS officer Sanjeev Khirwar as the new commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, marking his return to the national capital nearly three years after he was transferred out following a high-profile controversy linked to the Thyagraj Stadium.
Khirwar, a 1994-batch AGMUT cadre officer, takes charge of the country’s largest civic body at a critical juncture, with the MCD’s annual budget due later this month and the corporation grappling with persistent administrative and financial challenges. His appointment was notified through an official order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and communicated to the office of the Delhi lieutenant governor.
Hindustan Times reported that he replaces Ashwani Kumar, a 1992-batch IAS officer, who has been transferred to Jammu and Kashmir. Kumar had been serving as the MCD commissioner since June 2024 and earlier played a key role as special officer during the unification of Delhi’s three municipal corporations into a single entity.
In May 2022, Khirwar was accused of restricting athletes’ access to the Delhi government-run Thyagraj Stadium in the evenings to facilitate walking his dog. The allegations had triggered widespread criticism and public debate on the use of public infrastructure by senior officials. Khirwar had denied the allegations, but he was subsequently transferred out of Delhi to Ladakh.
Now back in the capital, Khirwar will oversee the MCD’s daily functioning, implementation of civic policies and coordination among departments at a time when issues related to finances, sanitation, urban infrastructure and service delivery remain under sharp public and political scrutiny.
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Vijay unable to prove majority, not invited for CM oath ceremony: Sources
Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay has reportedly not been invited to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after failing to demonstrate support from the required number of MLAs, sources in Raj Bhavan said.
According to media reports that quoted sources in the office of R.N. Ravi Arlekar, Vijay could not prove the backing of 118 legislators, the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Despite last-minute efforts to secure support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK), and an IUML legislator, Vijay reportedly managed support from only 116 MLAs, falling short by two members.
Sources said Vijay failed to submit letters of support from the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Later, the IUML issued a statement clarifying that it was not part of the TVK-led alliance.
Meanwhile, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is also said to have informed the Governor that his party would support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) instead.
Earlier in the evening, Vijay had met Governor Arlekar and staked claim to form the government, stating that he enjoyed the support of 118 MLAs.
