Gyanesh Kumar was appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner on Monday (February 17), succeeding Rajiv Kumar, who will retire on Tuesday upon reaching the age of 65. The tenure for Chief Election Commissioners is either six years or until they turn 65, whichever comes first.

Kumar’s name was chosen by a selection committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. The committee convened earlier in the evening at the Prime Minister’s Office in South Block and recommended his name from the pool of candidates shortlisted by a separate search committee.

Before the selection, Congress proposed that the appointment be delayed until the Supreme Court hears a petition on February 19 regarding the constitution of the selection panel. During a press conference following the meeting, Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi criticized the government for excluding the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee, accusing it of seeking control rather than preserving the Election Commission’s credibility.