Notwithstanding objections by BJP, the Defence Ministry is going ahead with the process of appointing the new army chief and has recommended the name of vice chief of army staff Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag to the Prime Minister's Office.

The recommendation of the defence ministry will have to be approved by the appointments committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, official sources said today.

As per tradition, the government announces the name of services chiefs-designate two months before the retirement of the incumbent. Sticking to that, it is expected to announce the name of the new army chief by May 1, three months prior to the date of retirement of Gen Bikram Singh.

The appointment of incumbent Chief Gen Singh was also done three months prior to the retirement of his predecessor Gen V K Singh, who had a turbulent relationship with the defence ministry and even dragged the government to the Supreme Court over his age controversy.