Who Will Succeed Kerala’s Police Chief?

Thiruvananthapuram, June 20 (NationPress) With only 10 days remaining until the retirement of Kerala State Police Chief (SPC) Sheikh Darvesh Saheb, the challenge of appointing his successor has transformed into a multifaceted riddle for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

A shortlist of six senior IPS officers has been submitted to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for evaluation. Following protocol, the UPSC will provide a panel of three candidates from which the state government must select the next DGP.

The contenders include Nithin Agarwal, Ravadha Chandrasekhar, Yogesh Gupta, Manoj Abraham, Suresh Raj Purohit, and M.R. Ajith Kumar.

Nonetheless, complications have arisen concerning the eligibility of two officers — Suresh Raj Purohit and Ajith Kumar — both of whom are currently serving as Additional Director Generals of Police (ADGP).

Central regulations stipulate that an officer must have completed a minimum of 30 years of service to qualify for the top position, a criterion that these two have reportedly not fulfilled.

Sources indicate that the Centre has expressed concerns regarding their eligibility. In response, the Kerala government has reached out to the Centre, requesting a waiver of the 30-year requirement, asserting that Purohit and Kumar should remain in the running.

If the Centre denies this appeal, the UPSC will be left with only four candidates to consider — Agarwal, Chandrasekhar, Gupta, and Abraham — from which it will eliminate one and return a final trio.

Insiders suggest that with Assembly elections approaching in April-May 2026, CM Vijayan is likely to make a politically astute and carefully weighed decision.

The significant challenge for Vijayan centers on the final panel's composition. If Manoj Abraham is left off the list, the remaining three — Agarwal, Chandrasekhar, and Gupta — are perceived to be at odds with the current administration.

In particular, Gupta was recently reassigned from leading the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to a less prominent role as head of the Fire and Rescue Services.

Nithin Agarwal has recently returned to Kerala after a lengthy period on central deputation, while Chandrasekhar, currently with the Intelligence Bureau, has reportedly shown interest in returning to state service. His presence in the state capital has sparked speculation about his ambitions.

If the process becomes stalled, CM Vijayan may contemplate extending the tenure of the current SPC.

Sheikh Darvesh Saheb has already received one extension, and according to precedent — his predecessor Anil Kant was granted two extensions — another extension could serve as a legal workaround.

Alternatively, the government could appoint an acting SPC. However, service rules dictate that an in-charge appointment cannot exceed six months.

With time running short and numerous uncertainties looming, the decision regarding the next police chief has evolved into a legal and political balancing act for the state administration.