In a significant development, the selection committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed Gyanesh Kumar as India’s new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). This decision comes as the current CEC, Rajiv Kumar, is set to retire on February 18, 2025, upon reaching the age of 65.
The appointment marks the first major implementation of a new law that governs the selection of the CEC and Election Commissioners (ECs). Under this new law, a search committee shortlists five senior bureaucrats for consideration by the prime minister-led selection panel, a departure from the previous practice of automatically promoting the senior-most election commissioner to the role of CEC.
However, the appointment has sparked controversy, with the Congress party raising objections to the selection process. Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has urged the government to postpone the appointment until the Supreme Court hears a pending petition on February 19 regarding the constitutionality of the new selection process. The Congress has expressed concerns about the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel.
Gyanesh Kumar, who is currently the senior-most election commissioner, will serve as the CEC with a tenure extending until January 26, 2029. Following Rajiv Kumar’s retirement, an additional election commissioner may also be appointed to fill the ensuing vacancy.
The appointment of Gyanesh Kumar comes at a crucial time, as the country gears up for the upcoming general elections. The Election Commission of India plays a pivotal role in ensuring free and fair elections, and the new CEC’s leadership will be closely watched by political parties and citizens alike.
