The political buzz is growing around possible good news for several senior bureaucrats, as changes are expected soon for the Lieutenant Governor posts in Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir.
This has triggered a subtle yet competitive contest among top civil servants vying for these prestigious positions. Leading candidates include Rakesh Singh, Rajesh Khullar, Sanjay Mishra, Rajiv Gauba, Amitabh Kant, Sunil Arora, Ajay Bhalla (Governor of Manipur), and West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose.
Among them, Karnataka cadre IAS officer Rakesh Singh is viewed as the frontrunner, largely due to his prior administrative experience in Delhi, with Rajesh Khullar considered the second leading contender.
Let us have a summarized look over the profiles of the top contenders after Rakesh Singh and Rajesh Khullar:
Sanjay Mishra
Sanjay Kumar Mishra, a 1984-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, is renowned for his tenure as Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from 2018 to 2023. During this period, he spearheaded high-profile investigations, leading to the seizure of assets worth over ₹65,000 crore and the arrest of several prominent political figures. In March 2025, he was appointed as a full-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), where he contributes his extensive expertise in financial enforcement and economic policy. Mishra’s career is marked by his meticulous approach and significant impact on India’s financial regulatory landscape
Rajiv Gauba
Rajiv Gauba, a 1982-batch IAS officer from the Jharkhand cadre, is renowned for his extensive contributions to India’s administrative landscape. He served as the Cabinet Secretary of India from August 2019 to August 2024, becoming the longest-serving individual in that role. Prior to this, he held pivotal positions including Union Home Secretary, Secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development, and Chief Secretary of Jharkhand. Gauba played a crucial role in significant national initiatives such as the abrogation of Article 370 and the implementation of urban development programs like the Smart Cities Mission. As of March 2025, he serves as a full-time member of NITI Aayog, India’s premier policy think tank.
Amitabh Kant
Amitabh Kant is a retired 1980-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, renowned for his transformative contributions to India’s policy landscape. He served as the CEO of NITI Aayog from 2016 to 2022, where he spearheaded initiatives like ‘Make in India’, ‘Startup India’, and the ‘Aspirational Districts Programme’. Kant is also credited with conceptualizing the ‘Incredible India’ and ‘God’s Own Country’ tourism campaigns, significantly boosting India’s global tourism profile. Currently, he serves as India’s G20 Sherpa, representing the country in international economic forums.
Sunil Arora
Sunil Arora, a 1980-batch IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre, served as the 23rd Chief Election Commissioner of India (2018–2021), overseeing the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Over his 36-year career, he held key roles in the central and state governments, including CMD of Indian Airlines and Secretary in key ministries. Post-retirement, he has been active in global electoral bodies and is the non-executive chairman of agri-tech startup Gram Unnati.
Ajay Kumar Bhalla
Ajay Kumar Bhalla is a 1984-batch IAS officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre and the current Governor of Manipur since January 2025. He served as India’s Home Secretary from 2019 to 2024, overseeing key events like the revocation of Article 370 and the COVID-19 response. Known for his strong administrative skills, Bhalla has a Master’s in Botany, an MBA, and an M.Phil. in Social Sciences. He now focuses on managing ethnic tensions in Manipur.
