Jaipur: With chief secretary V. Srinivas set to retire on Aug 31, the race to become Rajasthan’s next top bureaucrat has intensified, with additional chief secretary (ACS) of water resources dept, Abhay Kumar emerging as the frontrunner.1992-batch IAS officer Rajat Kumar Mishra, currently on deputation at the Centre, and ACS to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Akhil Arora, are also among the leading contenders, making the succession process closely watched within administrative circles.Sources said the state govt has begun discussions on the appointment to ensure a smooth transition in case Srinivas does not receive an extension from the Centre.A 1992-batch IAS officer, Kumar is considered the strongest claimant on the basis of seniority. Currently heading the water resources dept, he has been overseeing the Ramjal Setu Link Project, one of the Bhajan Lal Sharma govt’s flagship initiatives. Kumar is due to retire in Aug 2028.Another key contender is Rajat Kumar Mishra, also a 1992-batch IAS officer, who is serving as secretary at dept of Fertilizers, under the union ministry of chemicals and fertilizers. Known for his administrative and financial management experience, he is seen as having strong policymaking credentials and close coordination with the Centre. He is scheduled to retire in Jan 2028.Akhil Arora, a 1993-batch IAS officer, is also in the race. Having previously handled the finance and public health engineering depts, he is regarded as an efficient administrator and is credited with ensuring steady funding for govt schemes and projects. He is due to retire in Feb 2029.However, appointing Arora would mean superseding officers from the 1992 batch. The selection assumes significance given recent precedents, where former chief secretaries Sudhansh Pant and V. Srinivas were brought back from New Delhi, while under the previous Congress govt, Niranjan Arya was appointed after superseding several senior officers.
