India, July 1 -- She was the state's first woman chief secretary, who retired from the post on Monday and handed over the charge to Rajesh Kumar, from the 1998 batch of IAS officers. Through her one-year tenure, Sujata Saunik, of the 1987 batch, has walked the fine line between executing her administrative duties and the Mahayuti government, whose stakeholders have been often known to express opposing views.

Saunik spoke to Yogesh Naik about temporary setbacks when she was superseded twice in the past, her contributions to the government, what it meant to be an administrator for 38 years and legacy.

Excerpts from an interview:

You were the first woman chief secretary of Maharashtra. How do you look back on your term; what were your key...