Standoff Like Situation on UP DGP Still Exists: Decision Under New Delhi's Arc?

As the present UP DGP D.S Chauhan is going to superannuate at end of this month i.e. 31st March 2023, ripples in UP and New Delhi's power corridors have begun. Strong discussions have been made in the past few months or weeks on who is going to be the most likely successor of Chauhan. Top sources say that the picture is not as clear as it seems to be. Chauhan's tenure is presently under the ad-hoc label and now he is retiring in a few weeks, maybe a formality by the top brass can regularise his charge at the end moment so he can retire in peace- a case similar to the former Delhi Police Commissioner S.N Srivastava. However, it's not that easy to get up to the top helm of UP police because one has to pass from many strong political and non-political streams. Uncermennious removal of Mukul Goel and pin drop silence over the UPSC panel does indicate that there is something going on backstage, top sources say. A top and well-placed source says that discussion over UP DGP is under New Delhi's arch now as it was done in UP's Chief Secretary's case. The ballistic mode of UP power corridors last year which resulted in Mukul Goel's removal did not go down well with New Delhi and since then New Delhi started to pay some serious heed to top level appointments in Uttar Pradesh's power corridors and this may have resulted to a standoff like situation in choosing the successor of Chauhan, top sources add. Last moment discussions over D.S Mishra's extension and Arun Singhal's close miss give a close glimpse of New Delhi's fingerprints in giving go ahead to crucial appointments in UP. Interestingly, some in the UP power corridor are wondering about a possible miracle of D.S Chauhan's extension. But, according to top sources, the chances of  Chauhan's extension are slim. Therefore, in such a scenario where a standard procedure of selecting UP DGP is almost at rest, an additional charge is yet again in offing at the top helm of UP police or end moment lightning rush from state to UPSC under New Delhi's overhang can bring a full-fledged DGP, top sources suggest.