Mumbai, Nov 7 (IANS): Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' plan to appoint a chief executive officer (CEO) for Mumbai has sparked a row, with the Shiv Sena alleging it was a move to separate the city from Maharashtra.

"This smacks of a plan to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra and we shall oppose it," party MP Rahul Shewale from south Mumbai said.

Shewale added that this proved that Fadnavis lacks the confidence to manage the city since the urban development department is usually handled by the chief minister.

He said the city had a municipal commissioner, of the rank of state chief secretary, armed with wide-ranging powers to take all decisions pertaining to Mumbai's development. "Where is the need to appoint a separate CEO?"

Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar urged the Shiv Sena not to play politics on the issue and declared that "opposing a CEO for Mumbai is akin to opposing the city's development".

Fadnavis said Thursday that he was planning to appoint a CEO of the rank of additional chief secretary for co-ordinating all developmental work undertaken by multiple agencies for Mumbai.

The officer would function from Mantralaya - the state government headquarters - and ensure a proper chain of command for all decisions pertaining to Mumbai's development.

Presently, 16 different agencies of the city, state and central governments work in Mumbai, besides agencies like the airports authority, ports and defence.

The proposed CEO would be expected to co-ordinate the work of all these departments and agencies as there have been complaints that some of them work at cross-purposes.