New Gujarat police chief likely on Wednesday, AK Singh, Shivanand Jha front runners

With the Gujarat government likely to announce the name of the state's police chief on Wednesday, guesswork peaked the previous evening. Incumbent Director General of Police Pramod Kumar retires today.

Sources in police circle said Shivanand Jha, a 1983-batch IPS officer, and AK Singh of 1985 batch are frontrunners in the race. Jha is currently the director general of the intelligence branch, while Singh is the Ahmedabad police commissioner.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and his deputy Nitin Patel are scheduled to visit New Delhi to consult with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah before making the big announcement, said sources.

As per seniority, Jha is next in line to replace DGP Kumar. But if Singh gets the responsibility, he will supercede two officers senior to him – 1983-batch IPS Vipul Vijoy and Tirth Raj of 1984 batch.

Sources in the home department said Jha is likely to get the preference. "Jha is close to Amit Shah. But PM Modi could also toss Singh's name in the hat. The Patel community in the state may not want Jha as the top cop following the controversy during his stint as the Ahmedabad police commissioner."

Jha headed Ahmedabad police during Hardik Patel's rally in the city on August 26, 2015, when Patel community members had clashed with the police, resulting in ire among the Patel community against the official.