H.S. Brahma is the new chief election commissioner

H.S. Brahma is the new chief election commissioner

Incidentally, Brahma’s stint as the CEC is likely to be a short of less than four months. Photo: PIB

New Delhi: H.S. Brahma has ben named as the new chief election commissioner (CEC) of India and will take charge on Friday. The central government followed the established norm of choosing the CEC on the basis of seniority.

A 1975-batch Indian Administrative Services (IAS) of Andhra Pradesh cadre, Brahma will succeed V.S. Sampath who demited the post on Thursday after attaining the age of 65, the upper age limit for the post. 

Incidentally, Brahma’s stint as the CEC is likely to be a short of less than four months. He would overshoot the upper age criteria for the post on 19 April. Hailing from Assam, Brahma has served as the Union power secretary before he was appointed as an Election Commissioner in 2010. 

“President has appointed Shri Harishankar Bramha, the senior-most election commissioner in the Election Commission of India as the new chief election commissioner. Shri Brahma will assume the charge of the office of chief election commissioner with effect from tomorrow (16th January 2015 ) consequent upon demitting the office of the chief election commissioner by Shri V.S. Sampath from today i.e., 15 January 2015,” a release by the law ministry said. 

The government would now have to appoint a election commissioner in the place set vacant by Brahma. The Election Commission is a three-member body, including the CEC and two election commissioners.