Interesting Race in the Naxal Hit state of CG
The PHQ of Chhattisgarh is more interested in knowing about its new boss at the moment .
There are 3 main contenders of the Post : Girdhari Nayak IPS of 1983 batch(Presently DG Jail and Home Guards ) , DM Awasthi of 1986 batch (Presently DG Naxalite Operations) and Binay Kumar Singh IPS of 1987 batch ( presently Additional Director of IB )
Whispers has it that Girdhari Nayak having served as IG Bastar for a long tenure and being the senior most , will like to sit on the post .However his working style , temperament and lack of support in the cutting edge level of the CG police is a hindrance to his becoming DGP
DM Awasthi who was shunted out to Police Housing Corporation for 5 years made a come back as Special DG of naxal operations in the year gone by but continues to hold Housing corporation charge as well. However recent incidents which took place under his charge have bought a bad name for the state and is becoming a stumbling block in the government handing over the charge to him. However there is a strong lobby pressing for him to take over.
The dark horse in the race is BK Singh. Having served in IB for 15+ years and earlier as DIG Intelligence when the state of CG was created.Later it is told he handled an SIB(Subsidiary Intelligence bureau) of the neighbouring Naxal Hit state of Odisha and along with his vast experience in IB HQs handling various branches pertaining to national security including naxalism makes him a strong contender for the post. Known to keep a very low profile he fits into the scheme of things for the government however his candidature is being opposed by virtue of him being junior to the above two and a vested lobby in the state which is calling him an ‘outsider’.
There is also a section in the PHQ which would like to delay the appointment of the new DGP till next year till the retirement of MW Ansari , when the scheme of things for appointment changes and there would be a larger pool to select from but logic doesn’t seem to be on their side for now .
There have also been citings in the vernacular press of TP Senkumar case being cited to prevent AN Upadhyay’s shifting and allow him to continue till the government has a larger pool to choose from . How ever it may be noted that TP senkumar doesn’t prohibit the government to shift the DGP especially when the incumbent has been in chair for 3.5 years .
All finally depends on the government and the CM along with his group of advisors ( THE CMs Secretariat ) as to what decision will be taken .Considerations of the Elections due next year
will also run high on the governments mind .
Its an interesting race to watch out for as to who will lead the State police of a province battling insurgency of the worst nature presently in India . The decision would speak volumes of the nature of decision making in the state and its efforts to tackle naxalism