THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has finally given away misdoings involved in former DGP TP Senkumar’s appointment.
During UDF tenure, Chennithala the then Home Minister, sidelined IPS Mahesh Kumar Singla’s seniority status to position TP Senkumar as state police chief. After retirement, though Senkumar turned saffron, Chennithala stayed defensive of the flip-flop. The hint on the mistake came recently as Chennithala voiced his disbelief at Senkumar thriving in RSS camp.
Back in 2015, Jail DGP TP Senkumar succeeded KS Balasubramanian to take charge as state DGP even as Mahesh Kumar Singla of 1982 batch from Kerala cadre, was his senior in service. Besides, Singla, on Centre’s deputation at the time, had written to Home Minister Chennithala seeking to fill the post . Additionally, Muslim League, UDF’s major ally, too was supportive of Singla’s appointment. However, Chennithala turned the tables overnight and declared TP Senkumar, a 1983 batch IPS officer as the next DGP. The move sparked wide criticism that Chennithala was acting under RSS pressure and another communal leader.
Later in 2016, on coming to power, the LDF govt removed Senkumar, following the Chief Secretary’s report on the issue. However the opposition criticised the govt vehemently both outside and inside the Legislative Assembly, where it resorted to a walkout protesting Senkumar’s ouster. Chennithala pitched for Senkumar across the State saying, the cop was the most talented among the lot.
“Senkumar now is not at the place you imagined”, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told Chennithala recently in the Assembly. How can a competent officer like Senkumar jump the banner to join RSS, Chennithala had asked, in an awakening too late.
