Aravalli: The transition from bureaucracy to politics proved challenging for former IPS officer ML Ninama, who suffered a significant defeat in the District Panchayat elections in Aravalli.
Ninama, who contested on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket, lost by a margin of 2,700 votes, dealing a setback to the ruling party’s strategy of fielding high-profile bureaucrats in grassroots elections.
From 42-Year Police Career to Political Arena
A Gujarat cadre IPS officer, Ninama had recently taken voluntary retirement—just weeks before his scheduled superannuation—after over four decades in service.
He resigned on April 7 and soon joined the BJP in a high-profile induction, signalling his entry into active politics. The party had hoped that his administrative experience and tribal identity would translate into electoral success in North Gujarat.
Voters Back Local Leadership Over ‘Lateral Entry’
However, the election outcome suggests that rural voters preferred established grassroots leaders over a high-profile entrant from the bureaucracy.
The defeat is being seen as part of a broader trend where voters have shown skepticism toward candidates making a direct shift from administrative roles to politics without prior political groundwork.
Who is ML Ninama? A Promoted IPS Officer
ML Ninama is known as a promoted (conferred) IPS officer, meaning he did not enter the service through the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
- Began career in Gujarat State Police Service
- Elevated to IPS rank based on seniority and service record
- Associated with the 2006 IPS batch (promotion granted in 2007)
Career Journey: From DySP to Inspector General
Ninama’s policing career spanned several key roles:
- Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP)
- Superintendent of Police (SP)
- Deputy Inspector General (DIG)
- Inspector General of Police (IGP)
He was promoted to the IGP rank in April 2024, marking one of the final milestones before his retirement.
Key Postings Across Gujarat
During his long tenure, he held several important assignments:
- Superintendent of Lajpore Central Jail in Surat
- Leadership role in State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), Vadodara
- Intelligence-related posting in Ahmedabad
His early career included a posting as DySP in Bhuj in 2001.
Controversy During Service
Ninama’s career was not without controversy. In 2018, a magistrate court in Bhuj sentenced him to one year of imprisonment in a custodial torture case linked to his tenure as DySP in 2001.
The case drew significant attention as it involved a serving IPS officer being convicted in an old custodial matter.
Setback for BJP’s Strategy
The defeat highlights the limitations of relying solely on administrative credentials in electoral politics, especially in rural constituencies.
While the BJP has successfully leveraged high-profile candidates in urban bodies, Ninama’s loss underscores the importance of local connect, grassroots presence, and political experience in district-level elections.
A Tough Start to Political Career
For ML Ninama, the loss marks a difficult beginning to his political journey. For the BJP, it serves as a reminder that electoral success at the grassroots level often requires more than reputation—it demands sustained engagement with voters.
