JM Lyngdoh to be new chief election commissioner

New Delhi, May 17: THE Centre on Thursday announced the appointment of election commissioner JM Lyngdoh as chief election commissioner (CEC) to succeed MS Gill, who will retire on June 13.

“The government has decided to appoint JM Lyngdoh as the CEC after incumbent Mr Gill completes his tenure next month,” a top official said.

Sixty-two-year-old Mr Lyngdoh becomes the first person from the North-East to occupy the Constitutional post, whose tenure is six years or up to the age of 65 years which ever is earlier.

The official said that government has also decided to appoint personnel secretary Brij Bihari Tandon as an election commissioner to fill the vacancy that will arise with the elevation of Mr Lyngdoh.

Born in Shillong, Mr Lyngdoh was appointed as an election commissioner on March 1, 1997.

Mr Tandon, an IAS officer of 1965 batch of Himachal Pradesh cadre, due to retire on June 30, will take over on the elevation of Mr Lyngdoh.

Reacting to his elevation, Mr Lyngdoh said: “One of the major tasks before me will be to provide voter identity cards to every citizen and ensure that voting in all future elections took place through electronic voting machines (EVMs).”

Lauding the contribution of Mr Gill in bringing “high reputation” to the Commission, he said that the process of issuing voter identity cards in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Mizoram have to be expedited.

“I will also ensure that the Commission has adequate number of EVMs,” said Mr Lyngdoh, who will be CEC for another three years when he attains the age of 65 years. Mr Lyngdoh said that he would also suggest various electoral reforms to the government to ensure free, fair and peaceful polls. (PTI)