New CEC will take over today
Shahabuddin Yaqub Quraishi is all set to take over as the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Friday. His predecessor Navin Chawla demits office after having presided over the commission for little more than a year.
The notification appointing Mr Quraishi was issued on July 27 by the law ministry. “In pursuance of Clause 2 of Article 324 of the Constitution, the President is pleased to appoint Shahabuddin Yaqub Quraishi as Chief Election Commissioner with effect from July 30, 2010,” said the law ministry notification.
Mr Quraishi will have little less than two years at the helm.
Reacting to his appointment, Mr Quraishi had said, “I feel deeply honoured on being entrusted with this assignment. The Election Commission of India is an institution in which the nation places a great trust. It would be my utmost endeavour to prove myself worthy of this trust.”
Under his stewardship, the Election Commission will soon be conducting polls in a few states whose outcome may well redraw the political landscape of the country. They are Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
Mr Quraishi, is a 1971 batch civil servant. He joined the election commission in 2006. Prior to joining the Election Commission, he was the secretary of sports and Youth affairs. He has held several key positions before getting into the Election Commission and contributed enormously in the fields of health, education, population, drug abuse and other social issues.
After taking over, Mr Quraishi will address the media during which he is expected to spell out his objectives as the CEC.
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