Mumbai Police Commissioner, Satyapal Singh, tendered his resignation to the State Home Department on Thursday and plans to explore a career in politics.

Mr.Singh has sought Voluntary Retirement from service and wants to be relieved from his duties by the second week of February.

Sources told The Hindu that Mr. Singh has received offers from two major political parties - BJP and AAP. The BJP is keen to field Mr. Singh for a Lok Sabha seat from Meerut.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Singh confirmed the developments and said, " I have put my in papers and have requested the Government to accept the same. So far I have worked in the limited jurisdiction of Mumbai while serving in the force. Now I would like to expand my area of operation and I would like to devote my time and energy for social harmony, national reconstruction and world peace," Mr. Singh added

"I have received offers from various political parties and I am weighing my options," Mr. Singh added.

Mr Singh becomes the first police chief to quit the force. The 1980 batch officer was due for retirement in 2015.

His resignation will the pave the way for the appointment of the new Commissioner of Police(CP) that has been delayed by over eight months by the State Government. Sources say since no consensus was reached between Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and the State Home Minister RR Patil on who should be the next CP of Mumbai, the appointment has been delayed.

Two IPS officers, the present Anti Terrorism Squad(ATS) chief , Mr. Rakesh Maria and Maharashtra, Additional Director General (ADG), Law and Order, Mr. Ahmed Javed are the front runners for the post of the CP. Mr. Maria, though junior to Mr.Javed, is tipped to be the next chief.

"Mr. Maria enjoys proximity to the NCP which holds the Home portfolio in the state. Also in an election year , the state would like to appoint somebody who is seen as an officer accepted by all communities. Mr. Maria is seen as somebody who fits the bill," added sources.