New Delhi: Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday took over as the 26th chief election commissioner. An election commissioner since March 2024, he was elevated as the CEC on Monday. Gyanesh Kumar replaced Rajiv Kumar, who demitted office on Tuesday, as head of the poll panel.
Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi are the Election Commissioners. A mechanical engineer from IIT-Roorkie who has served as the chief secretary of Haryana, Vivek Joshi on Wednesday assumed charge as an election commissioner. At 58, Joshi is one of the youngest members to be a part of the poll panel.
According to the law governing the appointment of CEC and ECs, the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners will hold office for a term of six years from the date on which they assume office or till they attain the age of 65 years, “whichever is earlier”. Born on May 21, 1966, Joshi will turn 65 in May 2031, but as per the law, his term in the poll panel will end on February 18 of that year.
While CEC Gyanesh Kumar will demit office on January 26, 2029, the other election commissioner, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu will retire in July 2028. Joshi could possibly supervise the conduct of the Lok Sabha elections in 2029 as the next CEC.
