Gyanesh Kumar Assumes Charge as Chief Election Commissioner

New Delhi: Gyanesh Kumar assumed office as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India on Wednesday, succeeding Rajiv Kumar. His appointment marks the first under the newly enacted law on the appointment of election commissioners. Kumar's predecessor, Rajiv Kumar, demitted office on Tuesday.

In his first message after assuming office, Kumar emphasized the importance of voting as the "first step for nation building." He urged every eligible citizen, especially those aged 18 and above, to become an elector and actively participate in the electoral process. "The Election Commission, in accordance with the Constitution of India, Electoral Laws, Rules, and Instructions issued therein, will always be with the voters," he affirmed.

Kumar, a 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Kerala Cadre, has had a distinguished career with a wealth of experience at both central and state government levels. Prior to his appointment as CEC, he served as an election commissioner alongside Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, the newly appointed election commissioner.

Notably, Kumar has spent five years at the Ministry of Home Affairs, serving as Joint Secretary from May 2016 to September 2018, and later as Additional Secretary from September 2018 to April 2021. During this time, he played a significant role in the post-abrogation period of Article 370 in 2019, which led to the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. He also contributed to the formulation of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, which was a highly sensitive and pivotal piece of legislation.

In addition, Kumar was involved in the establishment of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, further adding to his public service credentials.

A civil engineer from IIT Kanpur, Kumar has further honed his expertise with studies in Business Finance from ICFAI, India, and Environmental Economics from Harvard University in the United States.

With his vast experience and expertise, Gyanesh Kumar is set to steer the Election Commission of India during a crucial phase, ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections across the country.