Gyanesh Kumar, the newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India, took charge on Wednesday and highlighted the importance of voting as the first step in nation-building. In his message to the citizens, he emphasized that every eligible voter should actively participate in the electoral process.
Speaking to the media, Kumar said, “The first step for nation-building is voting. Every citizen of India who has turned 18 should become an elector and cast their vote. In line with the Constitution, electoral laws, and the rules and regulations set forth, the Election Commission will always stand with the voters.”
Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer from Kerala, is the senior-most member of the three-member panel, which also includes fellow commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu (Uttarakhand cadre) and Vivek Joshi (Haryana cadre), both of whom were appointed following a Gazette notification on February 17, 2025.
Meanwhile, Rajiv Kumar, who previously served as the 25th Chief Election Commissioner of India, bid farewell to the Election Commission on Tuesday, describing it as “the place of worship of democracy.” Kumar expressed optimism about the future of the Election Commission, stating that the incoming team would elevate the institution even further.
“This building is the place of worship of democracy. Through great hard work, it has amassed heritage in the last 75 years. I am confident that in the time to come, it will rise higher than where it stands today. It is in very capable hands, and the new team will take it even higher,” Kumar told ANI.
Kumar also emphasized the vital role of voters and political parties in strengthening Indian democracy. He extended his best wishes to all voters, saying, “I hope people will remember and learn lessons from Indian democracy and elections. The biggest contribution toward this is from the voters and political parties.”
Kumar joined the Election Commission of India as Election Commissioner on September 1, 2020, and became the CEC on May 15, 2022. His tenure, spanning over 4.5 years, was marked by significant reforms across several domains, including structural changes, technological advancements, capacity building, communication, international cooperation, and administration. Kumar’s tenure witnessed the successful conduct of major elections, including those for 31 states and Union Territories, the 2022 Presidential and Vice Presidential elections, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and Rajya Sabha renewals, all with minimal repolls and incidents of violence, according to the Commission.
