From Police Chief to Political Debut: A Journey of Conviction
In a bold career shift that captured political attention, former Himachal Pradesh Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jai Prakash Singh has broken his silence after suffering a significant defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections. The 2000-batch IPS officer, who took voluntary retirement to enter politics, maintains he has no regrets about his decision despite the electoral setback.
The Political Plunge and Electoral Outcome
Jai Prakash Singh secured only 3,433 votes in the Chapra Assembly constituency, finishing fourth among ten candidates and losing by a massive margin of 83,412 votes. The former police officer contested on a ticket from Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) during the first phase of assembly elections in Bihar.
The electoral results showed BJP candidate Chhoti Kumari emerging victorious with 86,845 votes, followed by RJD's Shatrughan Yadav with 79,245 votes. Independent candidate Rakhi Gupta secured third position with 11,488 votes, leaving Singh in fourth place and resulting in the forfeiture of his security deposit.
Career Transition and Political Analysis
Singh's journey to politics involved significant career sacrifices. The officer was promoted to ADGP from Inspector General on January 31, 2025, but opted for voluntary retirement just five months later in July, cutting short his service by two years ahead of his scheduled retirement on July 31, 2027.
In an exclusive telephone interview with The Indian Express on Saturday, Singh analyzed his defeat, stating, "The NDA alliance managed to convince voters that supporting the JSP would only benefit the RJD, which was once responsible for the jungle raj in Bihar." He also acknowledged that government welfare schemes, including the transfer of Rs 10,000 to women voters' accounts and the announcement of 125 units of free electricity, significantly benefited the NDA alliance.
No Regrets Despite Electoral Setback
Defending his decision to leave police service for politics, Singh reflected on his unconventional career path. "I was commissioned in the Indian Army initially. I started preparing for civil services after resigning from the post of Major in the army," he revealed, emphasizing his history of taking calculated risks.
The former ADGP, who hails from Ward Number-8 Teghra in Bihar's Saran district, asserted, "I never regret my decisions whatever these lay ahead," demonstrating his philosophical approach to the political defeat. His assets declaration to the Election Commission showed movable property worth approximately Rs 2.18 crore and immovable property valued around Rs 2.72 crore.
Singh's transition from a distinguished police career to electoral politics represents the growing trend of bureaucrats entering the political arena, though his initial foray serves as a reminder of the challenges inherent in such transitions.
