Rajiv Kumar Appointed Chief Election Commissioner, To Oversee 2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has been appointed as the next chief election commissioner of India through Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

He will assume charge on May 15 after incumbent Sushil Chandra demits office on May 14, a notification issued by the law ministry said. There will be a vacancy in the Election Commission of India after Chandra's exit.

Putting the notification and a press note on his Twitter handle, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju extended his best wishes to Kumar. "In pursuance of Clause (2) of Article 324 of the Constitution, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Rajiv Kumar as the Chief Election Commissioner with effect from the 15th May, 2022," read the notification.

Besides the President and the Vice President elections due shortly, the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and several assembly polls will be held under Kumar's watch. He will demit office in February 2025.

Born in 1960, Kumar was the chairperson of Public Enterprises Selection Board when he was appointed an election commissioner effective Sept. 1, 2020. He had stepped in following the resignation of Ashok Lavasa. A 1984-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Bihar/Jharkhand cadre, Kumar superannuated from service in February 2020.