Who Will Be The Next Tamil Nadu DGP? Race Intensifies Amid Pre-Poll Power Moves

As Tamil Nadu's DGP Shankar Jiwal retires, the state government has sent a list of eight senior IPS officers to the UPSC for consideration, including frontrunners.

With Tamil Nadu’s Director General of Police (DGP) Shankar Jiwal set to retire on August 31, the race to fill the top cop's chair has intensified, drawing attention not only from within police circles but also political observers ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

Who Are The Senior IPS Officers In Run For TN DGP Race?

The Tamil Nadu government has forwarded a list of eight senior IPS officers, all holding the DGP rank, to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for consideration. The names on the list include Seema Agarwal, Rajiv Kumar, Sandeep Roy Rathore, Abhay Kumar Singh, Vanniyaperumal, Mahesh Kumar Agarwal, Venkataraman, and Vineet Dev Wakte.

Among the shortlisted candidates, Seema Agarwal, Rajiv Kumar, and Sandeep Roy Rathore are considered frontrunners, largely due to their extensive experience in central government postings—an attribute often viewed as advantageous in the UPSC-led selection process, as per a report on ABP Nadu.

As per the established procedure, the UPSC will vet the list and recommend a panel of three eligible officers to the state government. From this panel, Chief Minister MK Stalin will make the final call. The decision, expected in the coming weeks, is being watched closely, especially given the broader context of the assembly elections scheduled for April 2026.

The situation is further complicated by the imminent retirement of other senior officers. DGP-ranked officers Pramod Kumar, Abhay Kumar Singh and Sailesh Kumar Yadav are all set to retire within the next six months, effectively removing them from long-term contention for the top post. Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, a Tamil Nadu cadre IPS officer, is also retiring on July 31, ruling him out of the race.

Adding to the significance of the decision is the political climate. With elections just eight months away, the choice of DGP is expected to influence law enforcement strategy, election preparedness, and public trust in the police machinery. The DMK-led government will be under pressure to ensure that the new appointee is both politically neutral and administratively capable of handling high-pressure situations.

Shankar Jiwal, a 1990-batch officer who took charge as DGP in 2023, is credited with a composed and methodical leadership style.