Jammu Tawi, Feb. 18 -- Gyanesh Kumar, a senior Union Home Ministry official known for his role in key government initiatives like the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the establishment of the Ram Temple trust, is set to assume office as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Wednesday. He will take over the role a day after Rajiv Kumar steps down on Tuesday evening.

Kumar, who retired as Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation in January 2024, was appointed as an Election Commissioner in March 2024. He will become the 26th CEC, marking a new chapter in the Election Commission's history as he is the first to be appointed under the new law governing the appointment of Commission members.

His tenure will last until Ja...