EC nod to govt. to appoint new Army Chief

BJP has been opposing the appointment of the next Army chief by the UPA Government, arguing there was no hurry to do so and the matter should be left to the next government.

Army Vice Chief Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag is the frontrunner for the top post which will fall vacant on July 31 after the retirement of present Army chief Gen Bikram Singh.

Traditionally, the appointment of chief of services is made two months before the retirement of the incumbent. However, in the case of Gen Bikram Singh, the appointment was done three months before the retirement of Gen V K Singh, who was engaged in a long-drawn battle with the government over his age issue.