Former bureaucrat Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday took charge as India’s 26th Chief Election Commissioner, succeeding Rajiv Kumar who served in the post for over two years.
In his first address as CEC, he said, “The first step for nation building is voting.”
“Therefore, every citizen of India who has completed 18 years of age should become an elector and should always vote. In accordance with the Constitution of India, electoral laws, rules and instructions issued therein, the Election Commission of India was, is and will always be with the voters,” he added.
Kumar assumed charge as Election Commissioner on March 15, 2024. Gyanesh Kumar has served as secretary in the ministry of parliamentary affairs.
He belongs to the 1988-batch from the Kerala cadre. The government also appointed Vivek Joshi, a 1989-batch Haryana-cadre IAS officer, as Election Commissioner.
Gyanesh Kumar was appointed as the CEC by the President upon the recommendation of the Selection Committee chaired by PM Modi.
LoP Rahul Gandhi, however, presented a dissent note during the committee meeting as the law regarding the appointment process is under consideration in the Supreme Court.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led panel recommended Kumar’s name, and he was appointed as the new CEC on February 17 following a presidential order.
He is the first CEC to be appointed under the new law on the appointment of Election Commissioner.
