Eastern Command chief lt General Praveen Bakshi, who was superseded by General Bipin Rawat for the post of Army Chief, met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar here on Wednesday. Bakshi had met the Minister earlier too days after the Government selected Rawat for the top job on December 17 last year.
The latest one-on-one meeting led to another round of speculation about Bakshi even though he had extended full support to Rawat on December 31 when he took charge as the Army chief. The Eastern Command chief had also debunked rumors on the social media that he was going to seek pre mature retirement or quit as he was not willing to serve under a junior officer. Bakshi even called up Rawat to congratulate for assuming the new post. At present, Bakshi is on leave till January 26 and sources said he had applied for it days before the Government opted for Rawat.
Parrikar is likely to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this month about steps to be taken for higher Defence management reforms including setting up the post of Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee. The Chairman will be single point military advisor to the political leadership on matters of national security, acquisitions and related issues.
Bakshi may be appointed as Permanent Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee though officials refrained from confirming or denying this buzz in the Defence Ministry. Sources said it was unlikely as the Government will then find it difficult to justify while Bakshi was suited for the new post but was not found suitable for the coveted Army Chief's job.
The Government gave the time honoured seniority principle the go by and selected Rawat who superseded two officer including Bakshi and Southern Command chief lt General PM Hariz. Bakshi was the senior most officer in the race for the top job. He is senior to Rawat by at least a year while Hariz is senior to the new Chief by seven months. Bakshi will retire in July end while Hariz will hang his boots in November end.
The last time seniority criteria was overlooked in 1983 when then Vice Chief of Army and the senior most officer lt General SK Sinha was not selected and General AS Vaidya was picked for the Army Chief's post. Sinha later resigned.
Defending Rawat's selection, Parrikar said on Tuesday the government did not violate any laid down norms. He also said seniority was not the only criterion mentioned in the procedure for selection of Chief adding if that the was only principle then a computer will decide the Service Chiefs based on their date of birth.