Gyanesh Kumar officially took charge as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Wednesday morning, replacing Rajiv Kumar. Kumar, an ex-IAS officer from Kerala, will oversee the conduct of multiple elections, including state and presidential elections, during his four-year tenure. His appointment comes amid objections, particularly from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who raised concerns over the constitutionality of the selection process. The Supreme Court is set to hear related arguments later today.

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• Gyanesh Kumar assumes office as the new Chief Election Commissioner on February 19, 2025.
• He replaces Rajiv Kumar and will oversee a range of elections during his four-year term.
• Kumar is an ex-IAS officer from Kerala, with prior experience in the Home Ministry.
• His key role included drafting a bill that scrapped Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
• In his first statement, Kumar stressed the importance of voting and encouraged all eligible citizens to vote.
• His appointment was made amid controversy, particularly objections from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
• Gandhi, a member of the selection panel, submitted a dissent note, accusing the process of bias and constitutional violations.
• The controversy centers around the composition of the selection committee, which Gandhi claims is biased towards the ruling party.
• Gandhi criticized the government’s decision to remove the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel, calling it a violation of a Supreme Court order.
• The Supreme Court will hear arguments on the selection process later today.
• Dr. Vivek Joshi, a 1989-batch IAS officer, has also joined the panel as the third member.