Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has been appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). Gyanesh Kumar will be the first Chief Election Commissioner to be appointed under the new law related to the appointment of Election Commissioners. 1988 batch Kerala cadre IAS officer Gyanesh Kumar was working as an Election Commissioner since March last year. He has been promoted. His tenure is till January 26, 2029. Gyanesh Kumar will be responsible for conducting the assembly elections of Bihar this year and West Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu next year.

Earlier today, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of PM Narendra Modi regarding the new Chief Election Commissioner of the country. In which Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi participated. The tenure of the current Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar ends tomorrow (February 18).

How is the new Chief Election Commissioner selected?

Till now only the most senior Election Commissioner was promoted as Chief Election Commissioner. However, last year a new law came into force on the appointments of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. Under this, a search committee had shortlisted the names of five secretary level officers for appointment to these posts, so that the committee led by the Prime Minister could consider them. The PM, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a cabinet minister nominated by the PM approve a name. After this, the President will appoint the new Chief Election Commissioner.

Congress had expressed objection

A press conference was held by the Congress today regarding this, which was addressed by Congress leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Ajay Maken. During this, Congress leaders had said that a meeting was held regarding the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner. The Supreme Court had said that on February 19, there will be a hearing on this subject and a decision will be given on what should be the constitution of the committee. In such a situation, today's meeting should have been postponed. Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi had said that by removing the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee, the government has made it clear that it wants control over the Election Commission, and not to maintain its credibility.