Race for the new DGP has once again started with present incumbent Jagmohan Yadav set to retire on Thursday next.
The state government is reportedly not going to seek extension for Yadav and is likely to annoint him as the next Chairman of UP Public Service Commission (UPPSC). If sources are to be believed, the three foremost contenders for the top post are 1982 batch IPS officers, VK Gupta and Praveen Singh along with Surya Kumar Shukla.
Meanwhile, a section of the Samajwadi Party is also pushing the name of Sutapa Sanyal (1984 batch) advocating that her selection would credit the SP government of appointing the first woman DGP in the state and also being sensitive to the cause of women.
The CM has already taken several measures like 1090 services and Women’s Cell to redress their problems, and it is being felt that Sanyal’s appointment would further boost the state’s image of being sensitive towards the fairer sex in UP.
Yet another section in SP feels that with polls a year ahead, the appointment of a Muslim DGP in Zaveed Ahmed would give a good message to the community which is a formidable vote bank for the party. Ahmad has served in the CBI for several years, was Home Secretary during Mayawati’s regime and is known as an upright officer.
Both Gupta and Singh are also hailed as outstanding officers among the cadre but Gupta might pip Singh as he reportedly cleared the introduction of new recruitment policy in UP Police as the Samajwadi Party wanted it to be implement in UP.
Of the three, while Gupta has one year of his service, Singh has two and a half year but Ahmed would retire in March 2020.
However, the senior most IPS of the state, Ranjan Dwivedi of 1979 batch could not be ruled out either. He has four months left for his retirement while Surya Kumar Shukla would retire on August 2018.
Meanwhile, ADG( law and order) Daljit Singh has been asked to make arrangements for the farewell ceremony of the outgoing DGP. Yadav, a 1983 batch officer, was appointed the DGP on July 1, 2015 taking over from A K Jain, who was given three months extension.