Sunil Arora takes charge as Chief Election Commissioner

Sunil Arora, who was recently appointed by President Ram Nath Kovind, as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), has taken charge today. Arora succeeds OP Rawat, who demitted office on Saturday.

As the new Chief Election Commissioner, Sunil Arora will oversee the 2019 general election. Apart from the LokSabha elections, Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are scheduled to be held next year.

62-year-old Arora, had been the Information and Broadcasting Secretary, and Secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

He is a 1980 batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, Mr Arora is the senior-most officer in the election commission. He has also worked in ministries and departments such as Finance, Textiles and Planning Commission.

Sunil Arora hasa served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation during 1999-2002 and CMD, Indian Airlines for five years (two years as additional charge and three years as full charge).

Notably, a Chief Election Commissioner or an EC can have a tenure of six years or hold office till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. Accordingly, the convention is, to appoint the senior-most election commissioner as chief election commissioner.

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