PM MODI CONFRONTS CHALLENGES AND CONUNDRUM IN CBI

High stakes are involved in the selection of the next chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has limited options to choose from. The stakes are high because a perception has grown that behind the convoluted “CBI versus CBI” war, the agenda was to target certain officers of the Prime Minister’s Office perceived to be close to PM Modi. The weakening of these officers would have weakened PM Modi. This perception would make the PMO edgy while selecting the next CBI chief.

Also, the selection process will be among the most difficult undertaken by the Modi government, as it will have to counter the perception that in selecting talented candidates for sensitive posts, it is making many mistakes.

According to sources in the government, the establishment is waiting for the Supreme Court’s final judgement on the allegations against current chief Alok Verma, who has been asked to go on leave.

Whatever be the Supreme Court judgement, the government will have to prepare soon a short list to select the new CBI chief, who will have a fixed tenure of two years— that is until 1 February 2021.

The fixed tenure makes the Modi government’s vulnerability in selection of the CBI chief more pronounced as the Lok Sabha elections are scheduled for May 2019. Whoever comes to power at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections, will have to work with the sitting CBI chief.

PM Modi, Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi will select the new chief of CBI anytime before the last