Telangana’s Thrilling Race Heats Up with Shivadhar Reddy Holding the Edge
Hyderabad April 29,2025
Hyderabad is practically vibrating with suspense as the race for Telangana’s next Director General of Police (DGP) transforms into a pulse-pounding drama. At the heart of this high-stakes showdown are two larger-than-life figures: the razor-sharp Director General (Intelligence) B. Shivadhar Reddy and the dynamic Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand. The Congress government has lobbed a list of seven top-tier IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), but whispers in the wind suggest Shivadhar Reddy’s impending retirement might just be his golden ticket to the top.
Picture this: a state craving stability after years of musical chairs in its police leadership. Since the Congress stormed into power in December 2023, Telangana has been without a full-time DGP. The last permanent chief, M. Mahendar Reddy, bid farewell in 2022, leaving a revolving door of interim DGPs—Anjani Kumar, Ravi Gupta, and Jitender—to keep the ship afloat. Now, the stage is set for a permanent leader, and the spotlight is squarely on Shivadhar Reddy and Anand, with a supporting cast of heavyweights like Special Chief Secretary (Home) Ravi Gupta, Jitender, Shikha Goel, Soumya Mishra, and K. Sreenivasa Reddy waiting in the wings.
Why is Shivadhar Reddy stealing the show? His retirement looms in April 2026, a ticking clock that could work in his favor. Supreme Court guidelines guarantee a two-year DGP tenure, even if retirement is near, meaning Reddy could deliver a masterclass in leadership before passing the baton. Anand, on the other hand, is a force to be reckoned with, armed with a longer runway until June 2028. His street-savvy command as Hyderabad’s top cop has earned him legions of admirers, but could his extended service horizon make the powers-that-be lean toward Reddy’s urgency?
The UPSC holds the key to this cliffhanger. Tasked with sifting through seniority, performance, and service records, they’ll carve out a shortlist of three names for the Telangana government to choose from. But let’s not kid ourselves—this isn’t just a selection; it’s a chess game. Shivadhar Reddy’s intelligence prowess, honed in the shadowy world of high-stakes security, gives him a mystique that’s hard to ignore. Anand, meanwhile, brings a boots-on-the-ground charisma, commanding Hyderabad’s chaotic streets with finesse. Both have political goodwill and administrative swagger, but Reddy’s retirement clock might just be the checkmate move.
What’s at stake? Nothing less than the soul of Telangana’s police force. The state yearns for a leader who can tackle rising challenges, from urban crime to political turbulence, with an iron fist and a cool head. Will Shivadhar Reddy’s strategic brilliance and nearing exit make him the UPSC’s darling? Or will Anand’s youthful vigor and longer tenure steal the crown? As the UPSC deliberates, every chai stall and newsroom in Hyderabad is buzzing with theories. One thing’s certain: this isn’t just a race—it’s a saga, and Telangana is glued to the edge of its seat, waiting to see who’ll claim the throne.
