The authorities appointed former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as election commissioners on Thursday, setting the stage for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification asserting the appointments of Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu to the Election Commission (EC).
Selection committee assembly
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a variety committee assembly earlier within the day to advocate their names for the positions of election commissioners.
Vacancies within the election fee
The appointments come following the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey on February 14 and the sudden resignation of Arun Goel on March 8, which resulted in vacancies within the Election Commission.
Incoming commissioners’ background
Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, each 1988-batch IAS officers, hail from the Kerala and Uttarakhand cadres, respectively. They are anticipated to imagine workplace on Friday.
Upcoming normal elections
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections, together with polls for 4 state assemblies, are anticipated to happen in April-May. There are indications that the Election Commission could announce the schedule for these elections as early as this Friday.
Dissent word by Congress chief
During the choice panel assembly, Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury submitted a dissent word, elevating issues over the choice course of for the election commissioners.
Professional background of Gyanesh Kumar
Gyanesh Kumar, an IIT-Kanpur graduate with a postgraduate diploma in economics from Harvard University, performed a pivotal position in overseeing the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. He additionally led profitable evacuation operations throughout his tenure because the resident commissioner of Kerala in Delhi.
Professional background of Sukhbir Singh Sandhu
Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, a former chief secretary of Uttarakhand, was instrumental within the ideation for implementing the Uniform Civil Code within the state. He has a medical diploma from the Amritsar Medical College and holds a grasp’s diploma in historical past. Sandhu has in depth expertise in varied roles, together with chairman of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and extra secretary within the central authorities’s greater training division.
The appointment of Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as election commissioners marks a big improvement ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. Their numerous skilled backgrounds and in depth expertise are anticipated to contribute to the sleek conduct of the electoral course of.
