New Delhi [India], February 17: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi participated in a key meeting at the South Block on Monday to discuss the appointment of the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. This meeting, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Gandhi, comes as the current CEC, Rajiv Kumar, is set to retire on February 18.
The selection committee, responsible for choosing Kumar’s successor, includes these prominent figures. With Rajiv Kumar’s retirement, Gyanesh Kumar, the senior-most Election Commissioner (EC), will assume the role of acting CEC, as his tenure extends until January 26, 2029.
To facilitate the selection process, the government has set up a search committee led by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. This committee’s responsibility is to shortlist suitable candidates for the next CEC, ensuring a qualified appointment to this vital role. The CEC is appointed by the President of India based on recommendations from a selection committee that includes the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Minister appointed by the Prime Minister.
The CEC’s term can last up to six years, but the individual must retire at age 65, regardless of their term length.
Earlier this month, Rahul Gandhi raised concerns in Parliament about the Modi government’s decision to exclude the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the selection committee for the appointment of the CEC and other ECs. Gandhi criticized this move, questioning the government’s motives and labeling the removal as a “calculated strategy.â€