EXCLUSIVE | Gupteshwar Pandey Drops Hint Of Joining NDA In Bihar Elections, Calls Tejashwi A 'Sweet Boy'

The General of Police (DGP) took voluntary retirement from service and has now openly declared that he would contest the upcoming Assembly polls in Bihar.

(Image: Videograb/ Youtube)

New Delhi: Over the past 24 hours, IPS officer Gupteshwar Pandey has hogged media lime light after he stepped down as Bihar Police chief on Tuesday night and dropped hints about his political aspirations, asserting that he is a 'free man' now and that can will contest in the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections. The General of Police (DGP) took voluntary retirement from service and has now openly declared that he would contest the upcoming Assembly polls in Bihar. While speaking exclusively with ABP News, Pandey once again reiterated his political ambitions and said that he would contest elections, but only time will tell which political party he will join. Despite not making his clear whether he will join JDU-BJP-led NDA government or the Rashtriya Janata Dal RJD)-Congress-led Mahagathbandhan, the outspoken IPS officer did not shy away for praising Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his governance in the state. When asked about how could be a better chief minister of Bihar - Nitish Kumar or Tejashwi Yadav, Pandey said that no one as off now is better than Nitish Kumar. On Tejashwi, Pandey said that he is like his son. "I have seen him since childhood. I have known and worked with his father for 15 years. Tejashwi is sweet, smart, handsome and young, but he still has a lot to learn," the former DGP added. Pandey also said that it is most likely that he make an announcement regarding the same by today evening itself. Pandey, at whose suggestion, the Bihar government had recommended a CBI probe into the death of Patna-born actor Sushant Singh Rajput in Mumbai, rubbished suggestions that his outspokenness in the case was in anyway linked to his political ambitions. The officer had virtually waged an all-out war with Maharashtra politicians on national television in support of a CBI investigation in Rajput's death case, asserting that it alone could do "justice" to the deceased actor. The former Bihar DGP has also been a hotbed topic on social media for the latest video called "Robinhood Bihar ke" which captures his switch to politics. While many has appreciated the video, some section of social media and political circles have also criticised it. While speaking to ABP News, Pandey said that he was not aware of the video and some fan has made it. "The video was not made under my knowledge. My child took these footage and later with the help of his friend made this video to surprise me," he said. Gupteshwar Pandey also said that if people have problem with the video he would ask the person to take it down. ALSO READ | Farm Bills Row: Congress Begins Its 2-Months-Long Nationwide Protest Against Govt Over Anti-Farmers' Law Bihar's ruling JD(U) preferred silence on Pandey seeking voluntary retirement or his political ambition, ally BJP said everyone has the right to lead a social and political life in a democratic set up. The VRS request of Pandey, who would have retired in February 2021, was accepted by Governor Phagu Chauhan on Tuesday, the day he tendered his resignation. Pandey had sought voluntary retirement in 2009 amid speculation that he wanted to contest the Lok Sabha election from Buxar. It was rumoured that the BJP wanted to field him from the seat which has substantial Brahmin votes. The saffron party changed its mind and did not field Pandey. In a rare concession by a state government for an IPS officer who had voluntarily quit service, the ruling dispensation in Bihar sat over his resignation for nine months and then reinstated him.