Ex-Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey joins JD(U) month ahead of polls

Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey, who had recently taken voluntary retirement, joined Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) at the Chief Minister’s residence in Patna on Sunday (September 27), just a month ahead of assembly elections in the state.

Speculation is rife that he may be offered ticket to contest the assembly election from a seat in his native Buxar district.

“I was called by chief minister himself and asked to join (JD-U). Whatever the party asks me to do, I will do. I don’t understand politics. I’m a simple person who has spent his time working for the downtrodden section of society,” the former DGP said after joining JD(U).

Speculations were already rife about his entry into politics. Pandey met Kumar a day earlier but had refused to clear the air about his political ambitions. He had then said that he went to thank Kumar for giving him absolute freedom to perform his duties as the DGP.

Pandey was in the limelight over the past few months due to his controversial remarks in the case related to actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. He was also accused of passing sexist remarks on Rhea Chakraborty, who has been arrested in a related drugs case.

Related news: My quitting has nothing to do with Sushant case: Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey

After announcing his retirement last week, Pandey had triggered rumours of his contesting the Bihar assembly elections. Pandey too had hinted at taking the political plunge by saying he is “a free man” now and can take any decisions.

In 2009, Pandey had retired in a similar way to contest the Lok Sabha poll, but that didn’t work out and he was reinstated by the Nitish Kumar government nearly nine months later.

Meanwhile, the popular top cop has been portrayed as “Robin Hood Bihar Ke” by a singer in a music video, which features the IPS officer himself.

The Bihar assembly elections will be held in three phases — on October 28, November 3 and November 7 — and the votes will be counted on November 10.