New Delhi (14.06.2025): With voting set to commence on June 15, the CSS Forum Elections 2025 is not just a battle of manifestos but it is also a clash of generations, ideologies, and methods. The contest has intensified, drawing sharp focus on the two leading panels: the seasoned “Experience First” camp led by Rajesh Kumar, and the youthful, "Results-driven" team of Dev Priya Gupta and Yatendra Chandela.
The Return of the Old Guard:
In a move that has surprised many, several senior officers who had voluntarily passed the baton to the younger generation in the 2020 Forum elections have now thrown the hat in the ring. It's a comeback that has triggered curiosity and caution in equal measure. These senior leaders were once mentors to the current generation and had handed over the baton voluntarily. But now, they are back — not as advisors, but as contenders.
This return has sparked debates: Is it a revival of old guard, or a challenge to the youth-led structure that delivered results over the past five years?
While the seniors re-enter the fray, the tide — at least numerically — appears to be in favour of the younger team. Leading the charge is Dev Priya Gupta (CSS: 2012) joined by Yatendra Chandela (CSS: 2013) and Anu Arora (CSS: 2014) — the trio regarded as the face of a transformative phase in CSS activism.
Chandela and Anu Arora came to the forefront during last year's Peace March, demonstrating exceptional organizational ability and mass outreach. Dev Gupta, widely seen as the key strategist behind former General Secretary Manmohan Verma, played a pivotal role during CSS activism. Under Verma’s leadership with Dev as a close aide, the CSS Forum initiated bold steps such as the Non-Cooperation Movement, Black Dress Protest, and even Pen-Down Threats, which compelled the government to overhaul the bureaucratic handling of promotions in DoPT and thousands of long-pending promotions were cleared in a matter of months — a feat etched in recent CSS memory. Even Rajesh Kumar contender for the post of President came into lime light from last year's Peace March organised by the current team in which Chandela was a member.
There seems to be a battle between tactics and tenure. The Old Guard promotes negotiation, restraint, and structured dialogue. The New Guard champions assertive representation, public mobilization, social media strategies and measurable results. While the senior team advocates that top posts like President and General Secretary be held by the most experienced officers, the younger team counters with a question: “If results matter, hasn’t the younger generation already delivered?”
What Next?
Current electoral dynamics suggest that the younger team enjoys broader support from the bulk of officers belonging to the ASOs and SOs — a decisive voting bloc apart from the senior officers who benefitted in form of regular promotions due to the continued efforts of existing young team.
The results will be declared on 16th evening, which may well redefine the future of representation in one of India's most critical bureaucratic services.
