Tough task ahead for govt as race to SPC post hots up
2
3
Thiruvananthapuram: With state police chief Sheikh Darvesh Sahib set to retire at the end of this month, the process to appoint Kerala's next state police chief (SPC) has entered a crucial stage.
With the state heading into an election year, the govt is treading carefully in finalising the recommendation, balancing seniority, experience and political compatibility.
Among the front-runners is Ravada A Chandrasekhar, a 1991-batch IPS officer currently serving as secretary (security) in the cabinet secretariat. Chandrasekhar recently visited Thiruvananthapuram and is learnt to have met chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and chief secretary A Jayathilak, who is also his batchmate, formally expressing interest in returning to state service to take up the top post.
While Chandrasekhar was earlier viewed as a strong contender for the post of director, Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Centre's decision to extend incumbent IB chief Tapan Kumar Deka's tenure by another year has shifted the equation, with Chandrasekhar now eyeing the SPC role. If appointed, he would be eligible for an additional year in service, extending his career beyond the current 2026 retirement date.
In terms of seniority among officers of DGP rank in Kerala, Chandrasekhar stands second, just below Nitin Agarwal, another strong contender.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Free P2,000 GCash eGift
UnionBank Credit Card
Apply Now
Undo
The UPSC is likely to forward a panel of three names to the state, based on the state's recommendation and cadre seniority. As it stands, the probable shortlist may include Agarwal, Chandrasekhar and Yogesh Gupta.
Following them in the seniority order is DGP Manoj Abraham, who is widely regarded across all political and administrative fronts as field-experienced and acceptable, and his name is expected to remain relevant through the final stages of the decision-making process.
Further down the list are additional DGPs Suresh Raj Purohit and M R Ajith Kumar. While Purohit is currently on central deputation with the Special Protection Group (SPG), Ajith Kumar has been keeping a low profile following the thick controversies that surrounded him in the recent past. Also, both officers face a key eligibility barrier — neither has completed 30 years of service, which may effectively rule them out of contention for the top post.
The appointment comes at a politically sensitive time, with the 2026 assembly elections not far away. The leadership of the police force during this period is expected to play a significant role in maintaining law and order, managing public perception, and ensuring administrative stability. As such, the final decision is likely to be influenced not just by service records and seniority but also by the state govt's comfort level with the officer's administrative style and political alignment.
Political observers note that the CPM-led govt has shown flexibility in past appointments. In 2016, the party fielded M V Nikesh Kumar, son of M V Raghavan whom CPM held responsible for the Koothuparamba police firing as the LDF candidate in Azhikode, and later inducted him into the Kannur district committee. This shift demonstrated the party's willingness to look beyond emotional baggage when it serves broader political or strategic goals.
Similarly, Raman Srivastava, once a close aide of K Karunakaran, was appointed as chief advisor to CM Pinarayi Vijayan, again highlighting the CPM's pragmatic approach. The UPSC is expected to finalise a three-member panel based on seniority and service records, from which the state govt will choose the next police chief.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
9 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trade unions, farmer bodies to go on general strike on Wed; may disrupt banking, other services
Banking, postal and other services are likely to face disruption on Wednesday as more than 25 crore workers affiliated with central and sectoral trade unions have announced to go on strike across the country to protest against new labour codes and privatisation, and press for demands such as minimum wage of Rs 26,000 and old pension scheme, according to union leaders. The general strike is expected to disrupt services in sectors like banking, insurance, postal, coal mining, highway and construction, a trade union official said. The Central Trade Unions such as CITU, INTUC and AITUC are pressing for doing away with the four labour codes, contractualisation, and privatisation of PSUs, increasing minimum wages to Rs 26,000 per month, as well as the demands of farmer organisations for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops based on Swaminathan Commission's formula of C2 plus 50 per cent and loan waiver. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo Sectoral organisations such as the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and NREGA Sangharsh Morcha have extended their support to the nationwide strike. RSS-aligned Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), however, will not participate in the general strike, calling it a politically-motivated protest. Live Events A R Sindhu, National Secretary of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) said around 25 crore workers, including workers in organised and unorganised sectors, are likely to take part in the general strike. "Protests will be held in industrial areas, services like banking, postal services, and public sector companies are likely to be closed," Sindhu told PTI. "Not all unorganised sector workers may be able to join the protest, but they will also be mobilised, and roadblocks and 'rail roko' (stopping railways) would also be done," she said. Sindhu said workers in the country are facing a grave situation. "In Delhi, how many workers earn over Rs 10,000 in a month? Even in the public sector, over 70 per cent of employees are contractual," she said. "Casualisation and unemployment are high. Farming is not viable anymore, so the poor people are forced to come to the cities to work. Wages have also been falling in real terms," she said. "Workers are not being criminalised for organising... Right to unionise is the basis of democracy," she said. She also called the strike another step forward in consolidating the emerging unity of workers and farmers. "We had joint action during the Farmers' Protests as well, this will be further consolidation of workers and farmers for future action," she said. Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which had led the 2020-21 farmers' protests, will hold protest rallies at the tehsil level across India on July 9 independently as well as in coordination with the trade unions and agricultural workers unions. SKM has urged farmers to intensify the struggle on demands, including enacting a law for MSP at C2 plus 50 per cent, with guaranteed procurement for all crops, comprehensive loan waiver to free the peasantry from the debt trap and end rampant peasant suicides across India, withdrawal of National Policy Framework on Agriculture Marketing. The SKM has also opposed bilateral and free trade agreements hurting agriculture, industry and services, privatisation of electricity, and "indiscriminate acquisition of land violating the Land Acquisition Act 2013. The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha has called for MGNREGA workers across the length and breadth of the country to participate in the general strike. Their demands include wages of Rs. 800 per day, resumption of MGNREGA in West Bengal, scrapping NMMS and ABPS, among other things. This is the 22nd General Strike since the advent of neo-liberal policies in India in 1991, as per the unions. The general strike was initially called for May 20 but was rescheduled following the Pahalgam terror strike and subsequent Operation Sindoor. The ten trade unions are INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC. A forum of 10 trade unions has given a 17-point charter of demand. It includes withdrawal of fixed-term employment and scrapping of Agnipath scheme, 8-hour workday, restoration of non-contributory Old Pension Scheme and a minimum monthly penion of Rs 9,000 for the EPFO subscribers, among others. The forum has alleged that the economic policies are resulting into more unemployment, rising prices of essential commodities, depression in wages, cut in social sector spending in education, health, basic civic amenities, and all these are leading to more inequalities and miseries for poor, people of lower income group as well as the middle class. The four labour codes that have been passed by the Parliament are meant to suppress and cripple the trade union movement, increase working hours, snatch workers' right to collective bargaining, right to strike, and decriminalise violation of labour laws by employers, the forum has stated. They also demand implementation of the recommendation of Indian Labour Conference to give worker status to scheme workers-Anganwadi, Asha and Midday meal, Asha Kiran etc and ESIC coverage to them. The charter also suggests that here is an urgent need to form a Climate Resilience Fund to cover the risks and damages caused due to extreme climate conditions including heat wave, floods, cyclones, unseasonal rains and so on. Besides, unions have demanded for immediate halt to the privatisation of Indian Railways, road transport, coal mines and other non-coal mines, Port and Dock, Defence, Electricity, Postal, Telecom, Banks and Insurance sector etc. PTI
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
J'khand Cong to probe Purnia tribal family lynching: Gen secy
Ranchi: The Jharkhand unit of Congress on Tuesday set up a five-member fact-finding team to independently probe the mob lynching and burning incident of five members of a tribal family on suspicion of witchcraft in Purnia of election-bound Bihar. A mob of 50 around people had reportedly attacked and burned to death the family, including three women, at Tetgama village late Sunday. A 15-year-old, who was away from the house, became the lone survivor and recounted the case to police. Speaking to TOI, Congress spokesperson and general secretary Rakesh Sinha said the team is led by former minister Bandhu Tirkey. Other members include general secretary Amulya Niraj Khalkho, party's state ST cell president Josai Mardi, ST cell vice-president Raj Oraon, and party's mukhiya sangh cell president Somnath Munda. Announcing the team's departure for Purnia from Ranchi, Sinha said, "The team will try to understand the incident threadbare and identify the lapses. It will also study the conditions of tribals living in Bihar, where the JDU and BJP-led NDA alliance is in the state govt." Continuing his tirade against BJP, he added, "Wherever BJP is in the govt, be it on its own or in alliance, atrocities and attacks on tribals, OBCs, Dalits and other minorities is a concerning norm." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo He cited the examples of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Bihar." Congress MLA from Jamtara and state health minister Irfan Ansari said, "The incident exposes BJP (NDA)'s attitude towards the tribal community. I have written to chief minister Hemant Soren, urging him to constitute a fact-finding team team and make me a part of it. I will expose BJP." Terming the incident as "extremely tragic", BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said, "The Bihar govt has taken swift action in the case. The Bihar police has registered an FIR and raids are on to arrest the accused." Citing the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, he added, "The crime rate in Bihar in 2024 has decreased by 30% as against that in 2012-14 (during UPA regime)." "There have been over 8,000 rape incidents, with nearly one-third of the victims being tribal girls, during the JMM-Cong-RJD regime in Jharkhand over the past five-and-a-half years. This data exposes the shortcomings of the present govt in Jharkhand," Shahdeo hit back.
Indian Express
19 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Gaza ceasefire can be reached but may take more time, Israeli officials say
Gaps in Gaza ceasefire talks under way in Qatar between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas can be bridged but it may take more than a few days to reach a deal, Israeli officials said on Tuesday. The new push by US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators to halt fighting in the battered enclave has gained pace since Sunday when the warring sides began indirect talks in Doha and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set out to Washington. Netanyahu met on Monday with US President Donald Trump, who said on the eve of their meeting that a ceasefire and hostage deal could be reached this week. The Israeli leader was scheduled to meet Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday. Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who played a major role in crafting the ceasefire proposal, will travel to Doha this week to join discussions there, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters earlier on Monday. The ceasefire proposal envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza and discussions on ending the war entirely. Hamas has long demanded an end to the war before it would free remaining hostages; Israel has insisted it would not agree to end the fighting until all hostages are released and Hamas dismantled. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to still be alive. Palestinian sources said on Monday that there were gaps between the sides on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Senior Israeli officials briefing journalists in Washington said it may take more than a few days to finalize agreements in Doha but they did not elaborate on the sticking points. Another Israeli official said progress had been made. Israeli minister Zeev Elkin, who sits in Netanyahu's security cabinet, said that there was 'a substantial chance' a ceasefire will be agreed. 'Hamas wants to change a few central matters, it's not simple, but there is progress,' he told Israel's public broadcaster Kan on Tuesday. The war began on October 7 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages into Gaza. Israel's subsequent campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, displaced almost the entire population of more than 2 million people, sparked a humanitarian crisis in the enclave and left much of the territory in ruins. In Gaza City, children walked through debris, where residents said an Israeli airstrike had hit overnight, with children among the casualties. The Israeli military did not immediately provide details on the target of the strike. 'We hope that a ceasefire will be reached and that the massacres against the Palestinian people will stop,' said Mohammed Joundiya, standing in the rubble left in the aftermath of the attack. At Israel's parliament in Jerusalem, former hostage Keith Siegel, who was released in February in a previous ceasefire, described the anguish of those held incommunicado for hundreds of days in Hamas captivity. 'We have a window of opportunity to save lives,' he said, 'every minute is critical.'
