New Delhi, 6 June 2012

1973 batch IAS officer VS Sampath who is at present the seniormost election commissioner, will succeed SY Quraishi as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). The President has signed the file and the notification is expected to take place tomorrow.

Mr Sampath took over as election commissioner in 2009 and is expected to assume office as the CEC on June 10.

Sampath, an IAS officer of Andhra cadre was Principal Finance Secretary in Andhra government before coming to the Centre in December 2004. His first assignment was with Department of Land Resources in the Ministry of Rural Development. He then moved on as Director General of National Institute of Rural Development, came back into mainstream as Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. He was then appointed as Power Secretary, and later as Election Commissioner.

On his Delhi elevation in year 2009, the Indian Express report of 10 April 2009 said: The appointment (of Sampath in Election Commission) comes barely two days after UPA chairperson and AICC president Sonia Gandhi’s political tour to Karimnagar in Andhra fuelling speculation that the rank outsider’s name was suggested by none other than chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. The Prime Minister approved his name last night.

Sampath’s appointment as new Chief Election Commissioner comes a few days after senior BJP leader LK Advani wrote to the Prime Minister seeking a change in the manner in which members are appointed to the election commission.

Mr Advani wrote stating that a collegium should select election commissioners. “The present system whereby members to the Election Commission are appointed by the President, solely on the advice of the Prime Minister, does not evoke confidence among the people,” Mr Advani wrote.

Mr Advani said the selection committee should consist of the PM, the Chief Justice of India, the Law Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament.

Update on 7 June 2012

The President has appointed the senior-most Election Commissioner, Shri V.S. Sampath as the Chief Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India. Shri Sampath will assume the charge of the post of Chief Election Commissioner with effect from 11th June, 2012 consequent upon demitting the Office of the Chief Election Commissioner by Dr. Shahabuddin Yaqoob Quraishi on a attaining the age of sixty-five years on 10th June, 2012.

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