Will Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani be the new Army Chief ?

New Delhi: The extension of the Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande’s tenure by a month has opened various speculations about who the next Chief of Army Staff will be.

VCOAS Lt Gen. Upendra Dwivedi is still the front-runner to become the next Army chief, however, Central Army Commander Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani has emerged as a surprise but strong contender in the race.

Sources told Defence Watch that the extension clearly implies that the focus of the government in choosing its Army chief is on merit, rather than solely based on seniority. They highlighted that the extension of the Army chief was not influenced by the elections or the model code of conduct.

They cited that the appointment of Navy Chief Admiral DK Tripathi on May 1 demonstrated that the model code of conduct does not prohibit such appointments.

According to the sources, Lt Gen Subramani is a strong candidate, as he bring with him valuable operational and staff experience to the table, particularly in dealing with China.

His extensive command experience includes leading a battalion during ‘Operation Rhino’, an Infantry Brigade along the International Boundary, and the Kharga Strike Corps at Ambala, which focuses on Pakistan.

In various staff appointments, Lt Gen Subramani has demonstrated his capabilities as Brigade Major of a Mountain Brigade, Assistant Military Secretary, Colonel General Staff at Headquarters Eastern Command, Deputy Director General of Military Intelligence, Brigadier General Staff in Eastern Command, and Chief of Staff at Headquarters Northern Command, among others.

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