Gyanesh Kumar Appointed as India's New Chief Election Commissioner

The appointment, finalized by a panel led by PM Modi, has faced criticism from opposition leaders citing concerns over the selection process and its timing.

Gyanesh Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer, succeeds Rajiv Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and will serve until January 2029.
The appointment marks the first under the 2023 law that changes the selection panel's composition, removing the Chief Justice of India and adding a Union Cabinet Minister.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi submitted a dissent note, arguing the decision was rushed and should have awaited a pending Supreme Court hearing on the new selection process.
Critics, including Congress and other opposition parties, claim the new law undermines the Election Commission's independence by increasing executive influence.
The Supreme Court is set to hear challenges regarding the 2023 law's validity and its impact on the transparency of CEC appointments.