Govt. appoints Lt. Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag as new Army Chief

The UPA Government on Tuesday named Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh Suhag as the country's next Army Chief.

Lt Gen Dalbir Singh is currently serving as the Vice Chief of Army Staff and will take over from General Bikram Singh who is set to retire on July 31.

The Election Commission on Monday had given its assent to the Central Government to appoint the next army chief.

The poll panel has given its go ahead to the Defence Ministry to start the process of appointing the new army chief.

Citing its March 27 order, the poll panel said that decisions related to the defence ministry are not covered by the Model Code of Conduct.

The BJP has raised strong objections to the government going ahead with the process of appointing the next army chief, on grounds that its tenure is coming to end on May 16, and that the new government should have the right to decide who the next head of the army will be.

The BJP has said that it cannot understand the government's hurry to go ahead with such a crucial decision.

The government had earlier said that it would wait for the EC to give its nod before announcing the appointment.