Incumbent Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat is to replace Achal Kumar Jyoti as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) from next Tuesday (23rd January).

Achal Kumar Jyoti replaced Nazim Zaii as the country’s 21st CEC during last July after the latter superannuated on attaining 65 years of age. Jyoti, who was born in 1953, completes 65 years of age next Tuesday and would be demitting office as CEC.

As per the custom in practice at the Election Commission of India, a 3-Member body consisting Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners, President of India appoints one of the two Election Commissioners (senior-most) as the next Chief Election Commissioner. As Om Prakash Rawat is senior to Sunil Arora, the other Election Commissioner, he is now appointed as the next Chief Election Commissioner.

A press communiqué issued by Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi confirmed Rawat’s appointment as the next Chief Election Commissioner. The 22nd CEC would take over from Jyoti on next Tuesday (23rd January).