Gyanesh Kumar Appointed New Chief Election Commissioner

New Delhi:

Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the senior of the 2 election commissioners after Chief Election Fee Rajiv Kumar, will succeed him, the federal government introduced late this night. As the following Chief Election Commissioner, he can be answerable for elections in 5 states – Opposition-ruled Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and NDA-ruled Bihar and Assam — within the rapid future. The election in Bihar is due later this 12 months – the remaining happen in 2026.

Mr Kumar, who will keep within the put up January 26, 2029 — will altogether steer the Fee by means of 20 Meeting elections, elections for President and Vice-President in 2027, and preparations for the 2029 Lok Sabha election.

The announcement got here shortly after a gathering of the Election Committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union House Minister Amit Shah and Chief of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, the place the Congress chief had given a be aware of dissent.   

Mr Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer from Kerala cadre, was a part of the Union House Ministry and helped draft the invoice that scrapped Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. He’s identified to be near Mr Shah.

The Congress objected to the choice because the legislation on appointment of the Chief Election Fee has been challenged within the Supreme Court docket, which can hear the matter on Saturday. The occasion has alleged that the federal government desires management of Election Fee and isn’t involved about its credibility.

The federal government, sources stated, didn’t need to postpone the choice course of as it will depart a emptiness within the ballot fee. The courtroom had not stayed the appointment and authorized opinion was sought earlier than making the transfer, sources stated.

Earlier than parliament shaped a legislation on the matter in 2023, the Chief Election Commissioner was appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Historically, the seniormost of the 2 remaining Election commissioners will get the job.

Below the Chief Election Commissioner And Different Election Commissioners (Appointment, Circumstances of Service And Time period of Workplace) Act, 2023, a committee headed by the legislation minister has to shortlist 5 candidates and the choice crew – the Prime Minister, Chief of the Opposition and a cupboard minister — has to make the ultimate choice.

However the parliamentary legislation had put aside the Supreme Court docket’s guideline that made the Chief Justice of India part of the choice committee. The substitute of the CJI with a cupboard minister has been challenged in courtroom, with petitioners alleging that it interfered with the steadiness of energy within the committee and affected its neutrality.