New Delhi, February 19 – Gyanesh Kumar assumed office as India’s 26th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Wednesday, while Vivek Joshi took charge as an Election Commissioner.
Kumar, who had been serving as an Election Commissioner since March 2024, was promoted to the top post on Monday. His appointment came a day after the retirement of Rajiv Kumar, who previously held the position.
With Kumar leading the Election Commission of India (ECI), Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi are the two other Election Commissioners. Joshi, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Haryana cadre, was appointed to the commission on Monday.
Upon assuming office, Kumar emphasized the significance of voting, stating, “The first step in nation-building is voting. Every Indian citizen who has turned 18 should register as a voter and participate in elections.” He reassured the public of the commission’s commitment to democracy, affirming, “The Election Commission has always stood by the voters and will continue to do so.”
