VIJAYAWADA: As Director General of Police (DGP) Ch Dwaraka Tirumala Rao is set to retire in January, the State government has initiated the process of selecting his successor. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, a 1989 batch IPS officer, was appointed Head of the Police Force (HoPF) on June 20, after the TDP-led NDA government took charge.
He also served as the Commissioner for the Public Transport Department and Ex-Officio Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of APSRTC.
If seniority is considered, there are 10 DG-rank officers eligible for the post. Among them, Madireddy Pratap and Harish Kumar Gupta are the leading contenders for the coveted position.
However, two officers are unlikely to be considered: former Intelligence Chief PSR Anjaneyulu, who was placed under suspension, and former DGP Kasireddy Rajendranath Reddy, who was transferred by the Election Commission of India in May due to lapses in security during a public meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chilakapluripet.
Next DGP likely to get extension
Anjani Kumar, another potential candidate who served as the DGP of Telangana, has not yet reported to the Andhra Pradesh government. Nalin Prabhat, Dr Mahesh Dixit, and Amit Garg, who are currently on central deputation, are also unlikely to be recalled.
Sources suggest that Harish Kumar Gupta, currently serving as the Vigilance and Enforcement DG, is the most likely candidate to be appointed the next DGP of Andhra Pradesh. A native of Jammu and Kashmir, Gupta is reportedly closely associated with several BJP leaders at the Centre.
According to sources, “As there appears to be no scope for extending Tirumala Rao’s tenure, the State government has little option but to choose Harish Kumar Gupta. Since the Election Commission had appointed him as DGP during the elections, the State government may also prefer him.”
If appointed as the next DGP, Gupta would have only seven months of service before reaching superannuation. However, there is a possibility that his tenure could be extended by two more years, given the lack of suitable officers in the State for the position.
Meanwhile, officials close to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu have reportedly recommended extending Tirumala Rao’s tenure by at least one more year to meet the targets set by the NDA government.
Sources indicate that the government is satisfied with Tirumala Rao’s work. Acknowledging that Rao’s tenure could not be extended for certain reasons, a senior IPS officer remarked, “There is still a chance for the State government to extend his tenure in order to put the system in place.”