Much has been written about the unfinished agenda of the former defence minister, Manohar Parrikar, in South Block, before the politics of his home state beckoned to him to return.


In a state where the relaxed people-friendly atmosphere is a welcome feature, the former defence minister will no doubt find his return a refreshing change from the imposing South Block and the institutional conflicts within.


Reflecting on his brief foray on to the national stage and much that he attempted to change for the better, the one unfinished item on his agenda that he may rue is in the field of civil-military relations, of which the controversy surrounding the appointment of the new chief of army staff was a significant manifestation.


Clearly, the bureaucracy had not prepared him for the consequences that would follow once the ministry of defence decided to appoint an army chief over the heads of two other army commanders senior to him and in no way any the less professional. Read more