PM Modi-led committee appoints Gyanesh Kumar, SS Sandhu as new election commissioners

NEW DELHI: On Thursday, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Gyanesh Kumar were selected as the two new election commissioners of India. Both were selected by a high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha and member of the committee, showed disapproval of the move. Chowdhury said that the names shortlisted were not informed in advance and he had sent a letter to the Law Minister requesting this. Chowdhury said it would have been ideal to include the CJI of the Supreme Court in the panel and expressed concern about the process followed in shortlisting six names from a total of 200. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also a member of the committee.

Gyanesh Kumar is a Kerala Cadre Civil Service Officer while Sukhbir Singh Sandhu is a Punjab Cadre Civil Service Officer. They both will fill the void left by former election commissioner Arun Goel who resigned citing personal reasons. Goel's resignation was accepted by President Droupadi Murmu, confirmed sourceS from the Law Ministry.