Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioner of India, has been appointed as the brand new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), the Legislation Ministry introduced on Monday. The choice committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union House Minister Amit Shah and Chief of Opposition Rahul Gandhi met in Delhi on Monday night to determine the successor of outoging Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. Incumbent CEC Rajiv Kumar demits workplace on Tuesday on attaining the age of 65. Gyanesh Kumar will assume cost as CEC on February 19.
The Legislation ministry additionally appointed Dr. Vivek Joshi, IAS of the 1989 batch, as Election Commissioner, with impact from the date he assumes cost of the workplace.
Whereas PM Modi and Union House Minister Shah agreed upon Gyanesh Kumar’s identify and really helpful his identify to the President, Rahul Gandhi opposed it and urged the federal government to defer the choice pending a Supreme Court docket listening to difficult the choice course of. Gyanesh Kumar has turn into the primary CEC to be appointed beneath new regulation on appointment of election commissioners.
As a matter of precedent, the senior-most Election Commissioner (EC) used to get elevated because the CEC following the retirement of the incumbent. Nonetheless, a brand new regulation on the appointment of the CEC and ECs got here into pressure in 2023 beneath which a search committee shortlists 5 names from amongst secretary-level officers for consideration and finalisation by the prime minister-led panel. This regulation has been challenged within the SC and the following listening to is scheduled on February 19. Congress chief Abhishek Singhvi stated that by eradicating the Chief Justice of India from the choice committee, the federal government has made it clear that it desires management and never protect the credibility of the Election Fee.
After Rajiv Kumar, Gyanesh Kumar was the senior-most election commissioner. His tenure as Election Commissioner was till January 26, 2029 and now will proceed because the Chief Election Commissioner. Now, Bihar meeting elections later this 12 months and West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu meeting polls subsequent 12 months will likely be held beneath Gyanesh Kumar’s management.
