Gyanesh Kumar Becomes New Chief Election Commissioner

New Delhi: Gyanesh Kumar, a retired IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, took charge as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Wednesday. He has been an Election Commissioner since March 15, 2024.

Kumar replaces Rajiv Kumar, who completed his term on Tuesday after serving for four and a half years. To fill the vacancy left by Gyanesh Kumar’s promotion, former Haryana Chief Secretary Vivek Joshi was appointed as an Election Commissioner.

After taking charge, Kumar said, "Voting is the first step in nation-building. Every Indian citizen aged 18 and above should register as a voter and always cast their vote. The Election Commission has always been, and will always be, committed to the voters."

Both Kumar and Joshi were appointed by President Droupadi Murmu on Monday based on the recommendation of a Selection Committee. The committee included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

As CEC, Kumar will now oversee upcoming elections and ensure that they are conducted freely and fairly.