Vivek Joshi takes over as Election Commissioner

Vivek Joshi, previously serving as the Chief Secretary of Haryana, has been appointed as an Election Commissioner, a move that positions him as a potential Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

His appointment was announced on Monday amidst calls from the Opposition to delay the process until the Supreme Court had addressed ongoing petitions challenging the new appointment procedure for Election Commissioners.

A senior Haryana IAS officer, speaking anonymously, described Joshi as a "soft-spoken and reliable officer," trusted by the current BJP government.

The central government’s decision to appoint him as Election Commissioner now ensures that regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision on the appointment process, Joshi is likely to become India’s CEC when the country heads to the polls in 2029.

The Supreme Court has prioritized the hearing of the related petitions and will take them up on Wednesday.

Joshi is set to assume the role of CEC when Gyanesh Kumar, the newly appointed CEC, completes his term on January 27, 2029, upon reaching the age of 65. The other Election Commissioner, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, will end his term on July 6, 2028, ahead of the next general election. Both Kumar and Sandhu were appointed to their roles on March 14, 2024.

The tenure for a CEC is capped at six years or until the age of 65, whichever comes first. At 58 years and nine months, Joshi is expected to serve a full six-year term within the Election Commission.