Historic Appointment Sparks Political Clash in Jharkhand
In a significant administrative development, the Jharkhand government has appointed IPS officer Tadasha Mishra as the state's acting Director General of Police, making her the first woman to hold this prestigious position. The appointment comes amid a major political controversy between the ruling JMM and opposition BJP over the circumstances surrounding the removal of her predecessor.
Sudden Retirement Precedes New Appointment
The sequence of events began when outgoing DGP Anurag Gupta, who was already serving on extension after his retirement, unexpectedly applied for voluntary retirement two days ago. The state government promptly accepted his application with effect from Thursday, creating the vacancy that led to Mishra's appointment on Friday.
Tadasha Mishra, an experienced IPS officer from the 1994 batch, assumed charge as the acting police chief, marking a historic moment for women in Indian police services. Her appointment represents a milestone in Jharkhand's law enforcement history.
Political Parties Exchange Sharp Words
The transition quickly turned into a political battlefield when state BJP president and leader of opposition Babulal Marandi claimed credit for Gupta's removal. In an official statement, Marandi asserted that "though late, CM Hemant Soren ji has finally acted on our suggestion and removed Jharkhand's tainted and controversial DGP".
Marandi further elaborated that the BJP had been consistently protesting against Gupta's appointment, calling it "unconstitutional and illegal" from the beginning. In a sarcastic remark that added fuel to the fire, the BJP leader suggested the government should give Gupta a "respectable post" after retirement to prevent him from spilling "secrets".
JMM Fires Back with Strong Rebuttal
The ruling JMM responded sharply to BJP's claims, with party spokesperson Tanuj Khatri dismissing any suggestion that the government took advice from the opposition. Khatri emphasized that "Hemant Sorenji is an elected CM by the public and he has the highest experience of governing Jharkhand of all BJP CMs in the state so far".
In a direct counter to Marandi's comments, the JMM spokesperson referred to the BJP leader as an "accidental CM", asserting that the current administration is perfectly capable of making administrative decisions based on their own wisdom and experience.
The political drama unfolded in Ranchi on Friday, just one day after the government formalized Mishra's appointment as acting DGP. Both parties have dug in their positions, setting the stage for continued political confrontation over police appointments and governance in the state.
