Gyanesh Kumar Takes Charge As CEC Amid Protest By Congress

By fnf correspondent | PUBLISHED: 19, Feb 2025, 13:05 pm IST | UPDATED: 19, Feb 2025, 13:05 pm IST

Newly-appointed Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar took charge of the office amid opposition by the Congress over the selection process on Wednesday. Kumar was appointed by a selection panel headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The panel also has Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi as its members.

Kumar is the first CEC to be appointed under the new law and his term would run till January 26, 2029, days before the EC is expected to announce the schedule of the next Lok Sabha election.

The Supreme Court will take up on a "priority basis" the pleas against the appointments of the chief election commissioner (CEC) and election commissioners (EC) under the 2023 law.

Kumar's appointment was made hours after Congress asked the government to defer its decision on the new CEC till the Supreme Court concludes its hearing on a petition challenging the composition of the selection panel.

Gandhi said he presented a dissent note to PM Modi and Shah during the meeting of the committee. "The most fundamental aspect of an independent Election Commission free from executive interference is the process of choosing the Election Commissioner and Chief Election Commissioner," he said as per a dissent note shared by him.