Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu appointed new EC commissioners: Adhir Ranjan

A committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced the selection of bureaucrats Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as election commissioners, according to Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who shared the information insisting that he had raised objections at the selection process.

The decision follows the recent resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The committee, which includes the Prime Minister, the leader of the Opposition, and a designated Union Cabinet minister, opted for Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Gyanesh Kumar. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, as the opposition member, represents the Congress party on the three-member panel.

In addition to the Prime Minister and the Congress leader, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the meeting. However, Chowdhury criticized the Centre for a law that replaced the Chief Justice of India with a Union Minister on the selection committee.

“The Chief Justice of India should have been part of this committee,” Chowdhury remarked, expressing discontent over a law enacted last year that reduced the meeting to a mere “formality.”

Chowdhury further commented, “The government holds the majority on the panel. Their preferences prevail,” highlighting concerns over the selection process.

He disclosed that he received 212 names for review the previous night before the noon meeting. “How can one examine so many candidates in a single day? Then, I was provided with six shortlisted names just before the meeting. With the majority on their side, they selected the candidates they desired,” Chowdhury added.