<div>Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi, whose seniority-based claims to the army chief’s post were overlooked by the NDA government, met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar here on Wednesday.<br /><br />After Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh, who is to hang up his boots on December 31, Lt Gen Bakshi is the senior-most officer in the Indian Army. The government, however, decided in favour of Vice Chief Lt Gen Bipin Rawat, ignoring the seniority principle.<br /><br />Amid intense speculation on whether Lt Gen Bakshi would tender his resignation, the Eastern Army Commander met Parrikar in his South Block office for almost 15 minutes.<br />“It was a courtesy call. The Eastern Army Commander sought time to meet the defence minister,” said a source. Lt Gen Bakshi also met the army chief.<br /><br />The defence ministry and army spokespersons did not respond to queries on what transpired in the meeting. <br /><br />The government’s decision to choose Lt Gen Rawat, ignoring the seniority of Lt Gen Bakshi and Southern Army Commander Lt Gen P M Hariz, triggered a political controversy and wedged sharp differences in opinion in the military circle.<br /><br />Lt Gen Bakshi is to retire in July 2017 and Lt Gen Hariz in December 2017. But going by the traditions in the armed forces, both are expected to resign once their junior Lt Gen Rawat becomes the next army chief, from January 1, 2017. Lt Gen Hariz has not yet sought any meeting with the defence minister.<br /><br />While there are speculations on whether Lt Gen Bakshi would be accommodated as the Chief of Defence Staff or Permanent Chairman to the Chief of Staff Committee — both positions do not exist at the moment — sources said creation of these posts at such short notice was unlikely.<br /><br />Earlier this year, Parrikar had informed Parliament that both positions were being considered by the government simultaneously.</div>
<div>Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi, whose seniority-based claims to the army chief’s post were overlooked by the NDA government, met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar here on Wednesday.<br /><br />After Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh, who is to hang up his boots on December 31, Lt Gen Bakshi is the senior-most officer in the Indian Army. The government, however, decided in favour of Vice Chief Lt Gen Bipin Rawat, ignoring the seniority principle.<br /><br />Amid intense speculation on whether Lt Gen Bakshi would tender his resignation, the Eastern Army Commander met Parrikar in his South Block office for almost 15 minutes.<br />“It was a courtesy call. The Eastern Army Commander sought time to meet the defence minister,” said a source. Lt Gen Bakshi also met the army chief.<br /><br />The defence ministry and army spokespersons did not respond to queries on what transpired in the meeting. <br /><br />The government’s decision to choose Lt Gen Rawat, ignoring the seniority of Lt Gen Bakshi and Southern Army Commander Lt Gen P M Hariz, triggered a political controversy and wedged sharp differences in opinion in the military circle.<br /><br />Lt Gen Bakshi is to retire in July 2017 and Lt Gen Hariz in December 2017. But going by the traditions in the armed forces, both are expected to resign once their junior Lt Gen Rawat becomes the next army chief, from January 1, 2017. Lt Gen Hariz has not yet sought any meeting with the defence minister.<br /><br />While there are speculations on whether Lt Gen Bakshi would be accommodated as the Chief of Defence Staff or Permanent Chairman to the Chief of Staff Committee — both positions do not exist at the moment — sources said creation of these posts at such short notice was unlikely.<br /><br />Earlier this year, Parrikar had informed Parliament that both positions were being considered by the government simultaneously.</div>
