PM Modi's Committee Appoints Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as New Election Commissioners

In a recent assembly led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the high-level committee announced the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as Election Commissioners. This decision was made following a comprehensive evaluation process.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a prominent figure from the Congress party and the opposition's representative on the committee, expressed his reservations about the selection procedure. He pointed out that he had not received the shortlist of candidates beforehand, which would have provided him with a complete overview of the potential appointees. According to Chowdhury, the government had only provided a list of 212 officers the day before the meeting.

Government sources disclosed that Chowdhury was presented with five separate lists, totaling 236 names. These lists encompassed a wide range of officials, including 92 retired Secretaries and equivalent ranks from the Government of India, 93 currently serving Secretaries and equivalents, 15 recently retired Chief Secretaries from states and union territories, and 36 serving Chief Secretaries. The extensive nature of these lists indicates the thorough approach taken in the selection process for the crucial roles of Election Commissioners.