Meeting under PM on CEC, Congress demanded this from Center

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar is scheduled to retire on February 8, the selection committee held a meeting on Monday to decide on one name to appoint his successor. The committee consists of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. However, the Congress suggested that the government postpone the meeting for the selection of CEC till the Supreme Court hearing. Congress leader Ajay Maken said that today there was a meeting related to the election of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). The Congress party believes that since the Supreme Court had said that the case will be heard on February 19 and the decision will be given on how the constitution of the committee should be. In such a situation, today’s meeting should have been postponed.

While Rahul Gandhi was seen attending the meeting, the Congress on Monday alleged that by removing the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the panel to select the CEC, the Central Government has made it clear that it wants control and not Reliability of Election Commission. After Rajiv Kumar’s departure, Gyanesh Kumar will become the most senior Election Commissioner, his term will increase by 26 January 2029. To streamline the selection process, the Central Government recently established a search committee under the leadership of Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

This committee has been tasked to select potential candidates for the role of the next Chief Election Commissioner and ensure the appointment of the most qualified and competent person for the post. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioner (EC) are appointed by the President of India based on the recommendations of a selection committee. The committee is headed by the Prime Minister and it consists of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha as well as a member of the Union Council of Ministers nominated by the Prime Minister.