Sunil Arora takes charge as EC chief

: Former bureaucrat Sunil Arora took charge as the chief election commissioner (CEC) Sunday and sought the cooperation of political parties and people to make the electoral process “totally free, fair and ethical”.

A 1980-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Rajasthan cadre, Arora succeeded OP Rawat as the head of the panel that is responsible for holding assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

“It is with utmost humility and an enormous sense of responsibility that I have taken over as the chief election commissioner,” the 62-year-old, who has served as the secretary in the ministries of information and broadcasting and skill development, said after assuming office.

According to Arora, the Election Commission has begun preparation for the 2019 Lok Sabha, which will be held under his charge. He said the commission will continue “to put its best foot forward” to meet the expectations of various stakeholders in “consonance and conformity” with the ideals of the Constitution, especially the preamble. His tenure is scheduled to last till October 2021.

Arora said over the years, the poll panel has emerged as an “iconic institution” that the democratic world looks up to and a “beacon of hope” for “those transitioning towards democracies” owing to the efforts of previous CECs and the poll panel’s field staff.

The commission, which is headed by the CEC, also consists of two election commissioners. While former bureaucrat Ashok Lavasa holds one of the posts, the other is currently vacant.

NEW DELHI