Mon Feb 17 13:56:44 UTC 2025: ## Gyanesh Kumar Likely to Become India’s Next Chief Election Commissioner

**NEW DELHI** – Gyanesh Kumar, a former IAS officer, is poised to become India’s next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), sources revealed to NDTV on Monday. Kumar, who was appointed Election Commissioner in March 2023, would succeed Rajiv Kumar, who demitted office earlier today. His appointment, however, is yet to be officially confirmed.

If appointed, Kumar will oversee crucial upcoming state assembly elections in Bihar later this year, and in Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu next year. A 1988-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, Kumar is the senior of the two remaining Election Commissioners.

The selection process, however, has faced opposition. The Congress party, represented on the selection panel by Rahul Gandhi, has voiced objections, citing what it calls a rushed appointment and questioning the 2023 law governing the CEC selection. The party argues the law gives undue influence to the ruling BJP. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a challenge to this law this week.

Kumar, 61, has a distinguished career in the Indian Administrative Service. He previously served in the Union Home Ministry, playing a key role in drafting the bill that revoked Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and handled documents related to the Ayodhya Ram Temple case. He retired from the civil service in January 2023 as Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperation. His educational background includes a B.Tech in Civil Engineering, studies in Business Finance, and Environmental Economics from Harvard University. Sources indicate a close relationship between Kumar and Home Minister Amit Shah.

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