New Delhi: India’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, is currently at the center of intense national focus. Appointed as the 26th CEC on February 19, 2025, his administration faces mounting scrutiny from opposition parties and renewed legal probes.
Tenure and Retirement Guidelines
As per Indian constitutional norms, the Chief Election Commissioner serves a tenure of six years or until reaching 65 years of age, whichever occurs earlier. Born on January 27, 1964, Gyanesh Kumar is currently 62 years old. Under these rules, he is eligible to remain in office until January 26, 2029, completing nearly four years as head of the poll body.
Because his term concludes just weeks before the expected timeline for the next general elections, a new Chief Election Commissioner will oversee and lead the 2029 Lok Sabha Elections.
Key Allegations and Controversies
- Opposition Protests & SIR Row: Opposition coalitions have raised strong objections against the Election Commission regarding Special Intensive Revisions (SIR) of voter lists. Demands for his resignation have surfaced following claims of procedural discrepancies and alleged internal dissent within the Election Commission.
- Reopened Graft Inquiry in Kerala: Controversy has also resurfaced over a 2006 case from his tenure as Kerala PWD Secretary. The state government ordered a primary probe following fresh allegations related to a World Bank-funded highway project and a ₹2-crore bribery claim raised by a contractor.
The Election Commission has denied allegations of internal conflict, maintaining that decisions regarding electoral processes are made unanimously.
