GUWAHATI, Feb 18: Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, senior most among the two election commissioners after Chief Election Commission Rajiv Kumar, will take over the mantle from Kumar after he superannuates from office, the central government announced on Monday (Feb 17).
Gyanesh Kumar is a 1988-batch IAS officer from Kerala cadre and is said to have a close rapport with Home Minister Amit Shah.
Gyanesh Kumar — who will be in office till Jan 26, 2029 — will be in charge of the crucial assembly elections in Assam in 2026.
As the CEC, he would also be in charge of elections in the Opposition-ruled States of West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and NDA-ruled Bihar which will also take place next year.
Along with the assembly elections in these five States next year, Kumar will conduct 20 Assembly polls besides the Presidential and Vice-Presidential elections in 2027. He will also be tasked with making preliminary preparations for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
