Exclusive: RPF DG Succession Race Heats Up

With the incumbent Railway Protection Force (RPF) Director General set to retire in the coming months, the corridors of power are already buzzing with speculation over who will take charge next. And this isn't the only chair in play; parallel contests for the top posts at ITBP and BSF are running just as intensely, with several empanelled officers eyeing a shot at an independent DG-rank posting.

The Frontrunner

Leading the chatter is Jitender Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Bihar cadre. Kumar had previously been in the running for a Centre-level DG post as chief of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), but that appointment was put on hold. Sources say he's now setting his sights firmly on the RPF's top job. Close on his heels is Raja Srivastava, an IPS officer from the UP cadre, who is said to be trailing Kumar in the race for a DG-level posting at the Centre.

The Precedent

Adding another layer to the contest is Anupama Chandra, currently DG (Investigation) at the NHRC, who also served in the SSB and who sources say is also strongly in contention for the RPF's top post. Last year's appointment of Sonali Mishra as RPF's first-ever woman DG set a notable precedent. According to sources, the Centre may be inclined to continue that trend, a move that would favour Anupama's candidacy and strengthen the push for greater women's representation at the DG level across CAPFs. 

If that precedent does hold and Anupama is elevated to RPF DG, then Raja Srivastava would most likely then emerge as the frontrunner to succeed her as DG (Investigation) at the NHRC, a top source said.