New Delhi, Feb. 18 -- The selection committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which met on Monday evening, is learnt to have recommended the name of the next chief election commissioner to President Droupadi Murmu. Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, a senior most official of the three member panel, is expected to take over from Rajiv Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. Kumar's term ends on February 18 on attaining the age of 65 years.

This comes after the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi asking the government to adjourn the meeting to select the new chief election commissioner until the Supreme Court hears on February 19 a petition on the constitution of the selection panel. The Congress' statement came soon a...