Tue Feb 18 11:27:29 UTC 2025: **Gyanesh Kumar Appointed New Chief Election Commissioner of India**
NEW DELHI, Feb 18 – Gyanesh Kumar, a former IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, has been appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. The selection was announced following a high-level meeting of the selection committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, February 17th. The committee also included Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer who retired on January 31st, 2024, succeeds Rajiv Kumar, whose term ended on February 18th. His previous roles include Secretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Cooperation. Reports suggest he played a significant role in the formation of the Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Trust and was in charge of the Jammu and Kashmir desk in the Home Ministry during the revocation of Article 370.
The appointment, however, has faced criticism from the Congress party. Congress leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Ajay Maken had urged for the meeting to be postponed until a Supreme Court ruling on related matters. Rahul Gandhi, representing the opposition on the selection committee, voiced concerns about the perceived haste in the selection process. Despite these objections, the selection committee proceeded with Kumar’s appointment.
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