DIG set to quit to fight polls on a BJP ticket

Addl CP of Surat B D Vaghela, a Modi loyalist, may contest from Dahod

Acting additional commissioner of police in Surat, Bhavsinh Ditabhai Vaghela, has sought voluntary retirement to contest the upcoming Assembly polls from his native place in Dahod district on a BJP ticket.

The DIG-rank officer said he was waiting for a reply from the state's home department.

Vaghlea, who is a tribal from Chikaliya village in Jalod taluka in Dahod district, started his career as a police constable in Surat rural police and became an inspector five years later. In 1978, he was appointed as a deputy SP after he cleared GPSC exams in the first attempt. In 1993, he was promoted as an IPS officer.

The officer also heads a "think-tank of tribals", which is essentially a group of 15 tribal IPS officers and six IAS officers in the state.

Vaghela, who is said to be close to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, has seven months left for his retirement.

Talking to The Indian Express, the officer said, "The reason for my joining politics is to do something for the uplift of tribals who are still left behind. While in police, we did social work for them wherever we were posted. We want more tribal youths to become IAS and IPS officers. We will provide them with whatever facilities we can."

"We also plan to build hostels in urban areas across the state for tribal girls and boys who come to cities for further studies. They can stay in these hostels for free," Vaghela said.

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