Telangana Brings Back Senior IAS Officer Sanjay Jaju as Chief Secretary Pick

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has moved to bring senior bureaucrat Sanjay Jaju back to the Telangana cadre, positioning him to take over as Chief Secretary early next month. The 1991 batch IAS officer's repatriation signals the state government's push for steady administration as it rolls out a series of welfare schemes promised in the Congress election manifesto.

Current Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao retires on June 30, after serving two extensions totaling ten months. Jaju is expected to succeed him. The Chief Minister reportedly wanted an officer with no ties to the previous BRS government to lead the bureaucracy ahead of the 2028/29 assembly elections.

Jaju brings extensive experience from both state and central postings. His retirement date — February 2029 — also factored into the decision. Among other senior officers considered were Jayesh Ranjan and Vikas Raj, both from the 1992 batch. Ranjan retires in September 2027, while Vikas Raj reaches superannuation in February 2028. Appointing either would have forced the government to find another Chief Secretary mid-election cycle, a disruption officials wanted to avoid.

'The government can ill afford to lose time at the crucial moment when elections are round the corner,' a source indicated. Jaju's longer tenure ensures continuity through the campaign period.

Known as a non-controversial officer, Jaju previously served in undivided Andhra Pradesh, where he launched the Mee Seva citizen service program before moving to central assignments. His track record as an achiever in both state and central roles made him the preferred choice for the top post.

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📰 Source: The Hindu National