Lt Gen Dalbir Singh to be the next Army Chief

New Delhi, May 13: Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh is likely to be the successor of General Bikram Singh who is scheduled to retire on July 31. The defence ministry sent his name to the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) for approval. The 59-year old general's name was sent to the PM-headed ACC, just hours after the Election Commission allowed the government to go ahead with the appointment. Though the decision was under the scanner, especially when BJP had opposed the appointment, things softened down later on. It was being speculated whether the UPA government at the end of its tenure would appoint the new chief in accordance with seniority. The Election Commission had given government the permission to name the senior official on March 27. However, the ministry sought the poll panel's opinion to make the case watertight.

TOI