Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government’s appointment of Ravada Chandrasekhar IPS as the new Director General of Police (DGP) is being described by insiders as a “bittersweet” and strategic decision made more out of necessity than preference.
While the state officially welcomed Chandrasekhar as Kerala’s 41st Police Chief, government sources reveal that his selection was driven by a lack of confidence in the other two candidates on the UPSC-recommended shortlist — Nitin Agarwal and Yogesh Gupta.
Both officers, though senior and experienced, were reportedly viewed by the state leadership as misaligned with its administrative priorities. Agarwal currently heads the Road Safety Commission, while Gupta leads the Fire and Rescue Services.
Though Chandrasekhar ranked second in the UPSC panel, his apolitical track record, extensive intelligence experience, and service as Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau made him the most acceptable candidate under the circumstances. He was recently appointed as Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat by the central government.
A 1991 batch IPS officer from Andhra Pradesh, Chandrasekhar brings national-level expertise to Kerala’s top police post. His entry is expected to signal a period of calm and professional leadership in the police force, at a time when neutrality and operational focus are seen as critical.
As he assumes office and prepares for his first public appearance alongside Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Kannur, attention now shifts to how effectively he can manage Kerala’s law-and-order landscape while navigating the state’s complex political terrain.
