Sushil Chandra Takes Charge As Chief Election Commissioner Of India

Sushil Chandra assumed charge as the 24th Chief Election Commissioner of India on Tuesday (13 April), succeeding Sunil Arora who demitted the office on 12 April 2021 after completing his tenure.

Chandra has been serving in the Commission as Election Commissioner since 15 February 2019. He is also Member of Delimitation Commission since 18 February 2020 looking after Delimitation of Jammu Kashmir UT, an official release said.

Having held several posts in the Income-Tax Department for nearly 39 years, Chandra had also been CBDT Chairman from 1 November 2016 – 14 February 2019.

Earlier on 12 April, Sunil Arora retired as the CEC after nearly 29 months since assuming office. Arora oversaw the 17th Lok Sabha election in 2019 and elections to 25 State Assemblies since joining ECI in September 2017 as an election commissioner and later as the EC chief.

Sunil Arora in his farewell remarks thanked all the members of the Commission and wished for the successful conduct of all future elections.

Arora recalled every election presents unique challenges but conducting elections to the 17th Lok Sabha and the decision to conduct Bihar assembly elections during a pandemic was the most difficult.

He congratulated all the officials involved in the exercise for their meticulous planning and hard work to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of these elections.