* SPG directors successor also to be named in December
NEW DELHI: The Indian government has begun a search to fill six top slots, including those of the heads of Indias two major intelligence agencies. Both Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director PC Haldar and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Ashok Chaturvedi are superannuating in December. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has to decide whether to appoint their successors earlier for them to spend some time under them before taking over or give the two agencies heads a six-month extension to let the new government, which is to be elected next year, decide upon the matter.
In any case, the bureaucratic circles say the next government is bound to change the heads of the two intelligence agencies since they are the key posts on which the government relies for national security.
SPG: Another top police officer whose successor will have to be named in December is the Special Protection Group (SPG) director who provides security to the prime minister and United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
The prime minister would be consulting his National Security Adviser MK Narayanan for the three key appointments. Also to be selected is the new election commissioner, as current Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami will retire in April. Some quarters in the government recommend getting an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer inducted into the Election Commission. Police play an important role in the elections and hence an experienced IPS officer can be of immense help. Gopalaswami has previously been the Union home secretary and hence his experience was useful in handling the police aspect of the elections.
