Gyanesh Kumar Appointed as New Chief Election Commissioner of India

New Delhi: Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has been appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, replacing Rajiv Kumar, whose term ends on Tuesday. Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer from Kerala, is the first CEC appointed under the new law, the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Act, 2023.

As the senior-most commissioner on the three-member panel, Kumar will oversee upcoming elections, including the Bihar Assembly elections later this year and those in Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu next year. His appointment follows a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi to select a successor.

While the Congress party raised objections over the law under which Kumar was appointed, citing a pending Supreme Court case, the Centre proceeded with the appointment. The Supreme Court is set to hear the matter on February 22.

Kumar’s appointment is in line with the new law that involves a committee led by the Law Minister for shortlisting candidates, with final approval from a panel consisting of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, and a Cabinet Minister. The Congress has challenged this process, arguing it undermines the neutrality of the selection panel by including a Cabinet Minister instead of the Chief Justice.