New Delhi: Gyanesh Kumar, an IAS officer from Kerala’s 1988 batch, has been appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner of India. He will take over the position from the outgoing Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar today.
Gyanesh Kumar will oversee key elections, including the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections this year and the upcoming elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala in 2026.
A Kerala cadre officer, Gyanesh Kumar has held several prominent positions, including Assistant Collector of Ernakulam, Sub Collector of Adur, Municipal Commissioner of Kochi Corporation, Managing Director of Kerala State Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation, and Managing Director of Kerala State Co-operative Bank. He has also managed fast-track projects and the Public Works Department as a Secretary to the Kerala government.
Gyanesh Kumar played a pivotal role in drafting the bill for the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. At the time, he served as the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The controversy surrounding the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India from the Selection Committee for the Chief Election Commissioner’s appointment continues to make headlines, with a petition challenging this decision currently under consideration by the Supreme Court.
