New Delhi: Gyanesh Kumar is now a topic of discussion in the power corridors of Delhi after his announcement as the new Chief Election Commissioner of India on Monday. While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly stands behind his appointment, the Congress-led Opposition has been against the Centre’s move.
He is the first CEC to be appointed under the new law on the appointment of the members of the Election Commission (EC). During his tenure (till January 26, 2029) as the CEC, Kumar is all set to oversee crucial state polls Bihar Assembly polls later this year, and the Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal polls which are also due in 2026.
Gyanesh Kumar’s education qualification
Kumar is a 1988-batch Kerala Cadre IAS officer. Kumar, after completing his B.Tech in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, studied Business Finance in ICFAI, India and Environmental Economics in HIID, Harvard University, US.
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Kumar, who retired in January 2024, has also worked in the government of Kerala as the assistant collector of Ernakulam, sub-collector of Adoor, managing director of the Kerala State Development Corporation for SC/ST, municipal commissioner of the Corporation of Cochin, besides holding other posts.
Gyanesh Kumar’s career as an IAS officer
Kumar played a key role in implementing decisions following the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir during his stint in the Union home ministry. He took charge as an election commissioner on March 15, 2024.
In the government of India, Kumar has a rich experience of working as the joint secretary in the Ministry of Defence, joint secretary and additional secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, secretary in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation.
Why is Congress opposing Kumar’s appointment as CEC?
Prior to his appointment as CEC, Congress had asked the government to defer its decision on the new CEC till the Supreme Court concludes its hearing on a petition challenging the composition of the selection panel. Terming his appointment as a hastily-taken decision, Congress claimed that the government was keen on circumventing the Supreme Court’s scrutiny and getting the appointment done before a clear order kicks in.
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said in a hasty midnight move, the government has notified the appointment of the new CEC.
