The Law Ministry has scheduled a meeting on February 17, 2025, to select the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). A three-member committee will take the decision. The committee includes:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal
- Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi
This meeting is being held as the current CEC, Rajiv Kumar, will retire on February 18.
Rajiv Kumar’s Tenure as CEC
Rajiv Kumar was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner in May 2022. During his tenure, he successfully conducted the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He also led the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, which were held after more than a decade.
Upcoming Elections
After the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission conducted state elections in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Delhi. In 2023, under Rajiv Kumar’s leadership, elections were held in Karnataka, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Rajiv Kumar’s Retirement Plans
During the announcement of the Delhi elections in January 2025, Rajiv Kumar spoke about his retirement plans. In a lighthearted manner, he mentioned that he had been working for 13-14 years without a break. After retirement, he plans to spend 4-5 months in the Himalayas for meditation.
