NEW DELHI: Retired IAS officer Anup Chandra Pandey on Wednesday took office as Election Commissioner, returning the three member body, comprising Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, to full strength.
President Ram Nath Kovind had appointed Pandey as Election Commissioner on Tuesday. He fills the vacancy arising after Sushil Chandra succeeded CEC Sunil Arora, who retired on April 12.
The poll panel has to oversee the next set of crucial Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur, and Uttarakhand next year.
The 62-year-old will demit office in February 2024 on attaining the age of 65 years, according to the age criteria for Election Commissioners, just ahead of the likely announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Born on February 15, 1959, Pandey was a 1984 batch, UP cadre Indian Administrative Service officer. During his 37 year service, he has held key posts at both the Centre and the state level.
Prior to joining the Election Commission, Pandey was serving as a member of the National Green Tribunal Oversight Committee, Uttar Pradesh. (IANS)
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