Senior IAS officer Jayesh Ranjan, a 1992-batch civil servant, who was the most preferred bureaucrat during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi regime, continues to wield influence even in the Congress regime.
Jayesh Ranjan, who played a major role in the department of Information Technology and Industries during the BRS government, was elevated as the special chief secretary of the municipal administration and urban development department in the present government.
In addition to this key assignment, he holds several important additional charges, including Special Chief Secretary for Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture, Special Chief Secretary for Sports, and Director of Archaeology.
He is also a member of the National Pool of Trainers in Leadership, mentoring young civil servants across the country.
And now, according to reports, Jayesh Ranjan has emerged as the frontrunner for the post of chief secretary, after the retirement of K Rama Krishna Rao this month end.
Among the senior officers under consideration, Ranjan is widely viewed as the leading candidate, reflecting sustained confidence in his administrative experience and long association with the state’s governance framework.
In recent administrative reshuffles, Ranjan was transferred in December 2025 from his role as CEO of the Industry and Investment Cell to his current urban development assignment.
Earlier, in April 2025, he briefly headed the Industry & Investment Cell and the SPEED initiative in the Chief Minister’s Office.
As the state prepares for a change at the top of its bureaucracy, Ranjan’s name features prominently, with observers citing his institutional memory, policy acumen and administrative continuity as key factors in his favour.
