Manoj Ninama, a senior IPS officer from Gujarat, has opted for voluntary retirement just weeks before his scheduled retirement on May 31. This decision has sparked speculation that he may run for a seat in the upcoming local body elections in his home district of Aravalli. Ninama, who was set to retire at the end of May, officially exited the service on April 7.
At 59 years old, Ninama is a DIG-ranked officer from Shamlaji in Aravalli and is associated with the Scheduled Tribes community. He is reportedly linked to former IPS officer and current Gujarat minister P.C. Baranda. Sources within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suggest that Ninama is positioning himself to contest in the district panchayat elections in Aravalli. Although he has stated that his decision to retire was made for “personal reasons,” he has not dismissed the idea of engaging in electoral politics.
P.C. Baranda, who currently serves as the minister of state for Tribal Development among other portfolios, similarly sought voluntary retirement in 2017 prior to the Assembly elections and ran unsuccessfully as a BJP candidate. However, he successfully won a seat in the 2022 Assembly elections from the Bhiloda constituency on a BJP ticket.
Ninama’s career spans four decades, beginning as a deputy superintendent of police in the Gujarat Police Service, with one of his initial assignments taking place in Bhuj in 2001. He achieved the rank of IPS in 2007 and has held numerous significant positions within the Gujarat police, including superintendent of Lajpore Jail in Surat and joint commissioner of police in Vadodara. His final role prior to retirement was as the inspector general of the Traffic Branch.
Additionally, Ninama has served as commandant of Group 2 of the State Reserve Police Force in Vadodara and held a position within the State Intelligence Bureau.
Aditi Raja, an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, is based in Vadodara, Gujarat, and has over 20 years of journalistic experience. Since 2013, she has been reporting on Central Gujarat and the Narmada district, establishing herself as a reliable source on regional politics, governance, and key socio-economic and environmental matters.
Her expertise includes an in-depth understanding of the political landscape in Central Gujarat, characterized by a significant tribal population. Raja provides thorough analyses of political party dynamics, visits from national leaders, and government decisions that affect local communities.
She also covers the socio-economic repercussions of regional infrastructure projects, including the Statue of Unity and the Sardar Sarovar Project, as well as the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project and National Highway development.
Raja’s reporting addresses critical issues surrounding social justice and human rights, focusing on sensitive topics such as gender, crime, and tribal rights. She covers legal matters from various courts, including high-profile cases like the Bilkis Bano case and the Kheda flogging incident.
Furthermore, she excels in documenting the local impact of disasters and events, such as the aftermath of the Vadodara floods and the Harni Boat tragedy, blending investigative reporting with human interest stories.
Raja also tracks issues concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs), including crime, legal disputes abroad, and immigration challenges, thereby connecting local Gujarati experiences with the global diaspora.
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