Union Home Minister Amit Shah hosted a rare farewell dinner for outgoing Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Tapan Deka on Tuesday in New Delhi, a gesture that has ignited widespread speculation about Deka's future role, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. Shah personally posted pictures of the event on his X handle, a move unusual for the senior BJP leader, which many interpret as a signal of Deka's potential elevation.
Shah's Public Gesture Fuels Talk of Post-Retirement Role
The dinner, held at a luxury hotel in the capital, was attended by Deka, his wife, and Mahesh Dixit, who officially took over as the new IB director on July 1. In his post on X, Shah praised Deka as a veteran officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS) who served with distinction across various roles. He wrote: "A veteran officer of the Indian Police Service, former Director of the Intelligence Bureau Shri Tapan Deka Ji has served with distinction across different roles throughout his career. His professionalism and dedication to service will remain an inspiration and set a high standard for young officers to live up to. I wish him all the best and a fulfilling new chapter in life on his superannuation."
According to sources in the power corridors, the rare public display of support has added momentum to already swirling rumors that Deka could be appointed as the next Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. The current L-G, Manoj Sinha, is reportedly being considered for a position in the Union Cabinet, which would create a vacancy that Deka, with his intelligence and administrative experience, could fill.
Cabinet Reshuffle Speculation Persists
The development comes amid persistent speculation about a long-awaited cabinet reshuffle at the Centre. For over a month, political circles in Delhi have been abuzz with talk of changes to the Union Council of Ministers, though no official announcement has been made. Shah's overt gesture toward Deka is seen by many as a clue that the reshuffle may be imminent, with Deka potentially being rewarded for his service.
Deka, a 1988-batch IPS officer from the Himachal Pradesh cadre, served as IB director since 2022. His tenure was marked by several high-profile operations, and his extension ended on June 30. He was succeeded by Mahesh Dixit, a 1993-batch IPS officer from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, who took charge on July 1.
Deka's Possible Role in Jammu and Kashmir
If Deka is appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, he would replace Manoj Sinha, who has held the position since 2020. Sinha, a former Union Minister, is rumored to be returning to the Centre for a cabinet role. This would align with the government's strategy of placing experienced security and intelligence officers in key administrative positions in the Union Territory, which has been a focus of the Modi administration's policy since the abrogation of Article 370.
Political analysts note that Deka's background in intelligence would be valuable in Jammu and Kashmir, where security and counter-insurgency operations remain a priority. His farewell dinner, coupled with Shah's public endorsement, has thus become a talking point in both government and opposition circles.
