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Who is the New Chief Election Commissioner? Gyanesh Kumar’s Journey from IAS Officer to CEC
Gyanesh Kumar is the newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. This was after a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, confirmed the appointment of the new chief election commissioner.
He will assume office on February 19, 2025, succeeding Rajiv Kumar. Gyanesh Kumar's tenure will extend until January 26, 2029, during which he will oversee multiple elections, including the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.
A Significant Role in Electoral Oversight
Immediately, Kumar has to manage the elections in five states: Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Assam. Bihar Assembly polls are to be conducted in the current year itself while electoral activity for the rest is scheduled for 2026.
With this assignment, he will also be responsible for the Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections in 2027.
A Career Marked with Important Administrative Positions
Gyanesh Kumar is a 1988-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre with vast experience in the field. He has been a key player at the Union Home Ministry, particularly regarding the implementation of Article 370, which was abrogated in Jammu and Kashmir. Other prime offices include holding the position of Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation, besides managing crucial portfolios in the Ministries of Defense and Parliamentary Affairs.
The Process and Its Political Row
Gyanesh Kumar was here as CEC after meeting a three-member panel headed by Prime Minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
However, Rahul Gandhi filed a dissent note disapproving the appointment, which has ignited the row in the process. The Congress has blasted their guns at the new appointment law claiming the likely credibility and independence of the Election Commission might be compromised under such a new appointment law that replaced the Chief Justice of India with a cabinet minister in the selection committee.
Although the newly appointed law is still challenged in the Supreme Court, the government went ahead and finalized Kumar's nomination. Legal experts have opined that the court's persistence over the matter will affect future appointments but is not likely to change current selections.
Education and Disciplinary Area
Gyanesh Kumar did his B.Tech in Civil Engineering from IIT Kanpur. Further, he studied Business Finance from ICFAI and Environmental Economics from Harvard University.
His record also includes being a Municipal Commissioner in Cochin, an Assistant Collector in Kerala, and MD of the Kerala State Development Corporation for SC/ST.
Upcoming Challenges with CEC
During his term, Kumar himself will be supervising 20 Assembly elections, the Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections of 2027, and all preparations for the General Elections in 2029.
The petitions filed before the Supreme Court against the new appointment law will see Kumar serve during a testing ground for his leadership in terms of its impact on electoral transparency and fairness.