2000-batch IPS officer JP Singh had 2 years left for retirement
Munish Sood
MANDI: Former Himachal Pradesh Additional Director General of Police (ADG) JP Singh suffered a severe setback in the Bihar Assembly elections, finishing a distant fourth in the Chapra constituency and losing his deposit after managing to secure only 3,433 votes.
Contesting on the Jan Suraj Party ticket, JP Singh’s entry into electoral politics began on a difficult note as he ended up fourth among ten candidates.
The Chapra contest turned out to be completely one-sided. BJP candidate Chhoti Kumari won the seat comfortably with 86,845 votes, followed by RJD’s Shatrughan Yadav, who secured 79,245 votes. Independent candidate Rakhi Gupta finished third with 11,488 votes. JP Singh trailed far behind all three, losing to the winning candidate by a huge margin of 83,412 votes.
Was due for retirement in July 2025
A 2000-batch IPS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, JP Singh had taken voluntary retirement (VRS) in July 2025, two years ahead of his scheduled retirement on July 31, 2027. He had been promoted to the post of ADGP only earlier that year, on January 31, 2025.
His decision to step away from a senior police role had attracted considerable attention, and many expected him to make a strong impact in politics. The election results, however, told a different story.
Born in Bihar in 1967, Singh has had a long and distinguished career in the police force. He served in several key positions in Himachal Pradesh, including ASP Kangra, ADC to the Governor, SP Chamba, SP Sirmaur, SP Intelligence, Commandant, IG South Range, IG North Range, Vigilance and ADGP CID, which was his final posting. His service record earned him a reputation for discipline and commitment.
Often spent holidays teaching children in his village
Coming from a farmer family, JP Singh first served in the armed forces before joining the IPS. Known for his disciplined lifestyle, he often spent his holidays teaching children in his village and preparing them for competitive examinations, earning him respect as a mentor as well as an officer.
Despite his inspiring personal and professional journey, JP Singh’s political debut has begun on a challenging note. Political observers say that he may have underestimated the strength of established party structures in Bihar, particularly in constituencies like Chapra where organisational presence matters heavily.
What lies ahead for JP Singh remains unclear. He may choose to remain active in Bihar’s political landscape, shift his focus towards social work or prepare for another electoral attempt. For now, the result stands as a sharp reminder that administrative goodwill and public service experience do not automatically translate into electoral support.
