Ex-DGP from Bihar Gupteshwar Pandey meets Nitish; Speculation of joining politics intensifies | Bihar Assembly Elections 2020 Election News


PATNA: Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey met here with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday, giving credence to speculation that the IPS officer’s sudden move to take VRS was prompted by the intention to join politics.
Pandey, who resigned as head of state police less than a week ago, however, insisted that he had walked to the state headquarters of the JD (U), headed by the prime minister, to “thank” Kumar for the trust he placed. . in it by the latter.
“I did not discuss anything political with the Prime Minister. I have worked with him for a long time and after retirement I just wanted to thank him for his support. If and when I decide to join any political party, I will let everyone know. Pandey told a group of journalists waiting outside JD (U) office in Birchand Patel Marg.
Although the IPS officer, who took VRS less than half a year before his retirement, has chosen to keep his cards close to his chest, he is said to be ready to join the JD (U) and get a ticket from one of the segments. of the assembly in his home district of Buxar.
Reports in a section of the media also say that Pandey could be considered for the seat of Valmiki Nagar Lok Sabha, where a secondary vote was required for the death of MP JD (U) Baidyanath Mahto.
The JD (U) draws its support, in large part, from the non-Yadav Muslim Pasmanda and OBC. The party hopes that with Pandey’s induction it will be able to reach the Brahmins, traditionally congressional supporters who have lately leaned towards the BJP.
Pandey had made headlines recently for his verbal condemnation of the failure to cooperate with the Bihar police team that had visited Mumbai to investigate the suicide death of Patna-born actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
With a frankness not generally associated with bureaucrats, Pandey lashed out at municipal authorities in Mumbai when they quarantined Vinay Tiwari, a young IPS officer from Patna who headed the investigation team until the investigation was handed over to the CBI. at the request of the deceased actor’s father.
There was also much talk of Pandey’s comment, while he was still the DGP, that actress Rhea Chakraborty accused of instigation of suicide by Rajput’s father did not have the aukaat (standing) to make sarcastic comments against Nitish Kumar.
The Shiv Sena, who heads the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, had accused Pandey of acting as a political pawn for the ruling administration in Bihar before the assembly elections.
Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut on the former DGP’s VRS said he was executing a political agenda with his statements on the Mumbai case and will now receive his award.
Maharashtra Interior Minister and CPN leader Anil Deshmukh said on Friday that Pandey’s resignation from the job confirmed his doubts that in the case of Rajput’s death he was making comments not as a DGP but as a BJP leader. .
Pandey has brushed aside criticism from Shiv Sena, saying that “they keep saying a lot of things, I don’t give them much credit.”
Pandey had resigned from the service in 2009 to participate in the Lok Sabha elections held that year. His resignation letter, however, was curiously not sent and he was reinstated in service a few months later.
Earlier on Tuesday, the covers appeared to have been cleared for Pandey’s future move as his VRS request received swift approval from Governor Fagu Chauhan and an exception was made in his case with the exemption of a mandatory cooldown period. three months for the government. service.

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