Gyanesh Kumar is new CEC: Played key roles in J&K reorganization, setting up Ram Temple trust

By our Special Correspondent

Almost a year after he was appointed an Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar was elevated to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Monday.

          Kumar’s appointment was announced hours after the Prime Minister-headed high-level panel met to select the new CEC to succeed Rajiv Kumar, who is set to retire on Tuesday. The meeting saw the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, asking the government to defer the appointment until the Supreme Court decides on the petitions challenging the new appointment process. The Supreme Court is to hear the matter on Wednesday.