Race begins to succeed R&AW boss

At a time when intelligence from India's eastern and western borders is of paramount importance, the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency, seems to be a divided house, a reliable source told rediff.com

Ashok Chaturvedi, R&AW's chief -- who is known as Secretary (R) -- will retire in February. Nine months before his retirement a nuanced competition within the organisation has begun, which may have a bearing on the race for succession.

Next in line for promotions are Rana Banerjee, an Indian Administrative Service officer from Assam who has been in the organisation for over 25 years, and P V Kumar, the seniormost R&AW officer after Chaturvedi. Kumar, who was recruited directly into the Research and Analysis Service, is said to have a distinguished service record.

Banerjee is considered the leading Pakistan expert within the R&AW establishment. If he becomes Secretary (R), he will be the third non-IPS officer to head R&AW. The first was N F Suntook, the chief from 1977 to 1983; the second was Vikram Sood from the Indian Postal Service, the chief from 2001 to 2003.

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When the succession race begins in earnest Tripathi's case to succeed Chaturvedi could be backed by UP's political and bureaucratic lobbies.

Banerjee is said to have no such support from Assam's political leaders and bureaucracy, but External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee recognises his enormous experience and expertise on Pakistan. Tripathi, who is currently in charge of the agency's Aviation Research Centre, is said to have no area expertise. While Banerjee served in Islamabad and London, Tripathi served in Trinidad, Geneva and Mauritius.

Tripathi is believed to be close to current R&AW chief Chaturvedi. A government source claims that Chaturvedi recommended Banerjee's name for the post of Chairman, Joint Intelligence Committee, which fell vacant on January 31, when Dr R D Pradhan, the then chairman, retired. Banerjee somehow managed to stay within R&AW.