Gyanesh Kumar Becomes 26th Chief Election Commissioner Replacing Rajiv Kumar

New Delhi: Gyanesh Kumar took charge as India’s 26th Chief Election Commissioner on Wednesday. This former bureaucrat succeeded Rajiv Kumar.

In his first statement after taking charge, 61-year-old Gyanesh Kumar said, “The first step towards 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 was, is and will always be with the voters.” he said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hear petitions today challenging the appointment process of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023.

The Act passed by the Parliament in December 2023, removed the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel appointing the Election Commissioners. Earlier, Supreme Court had ruled that Election Commissioners should be appointed by a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India until a law is enacted.

Gyanesh Kumar is the first Chief Election Commissioner to be appointed under the new law on the appointment of the members of the Election Commission.

Gyanesh Kumar will continue in office until January 26, 2029