PM Narendra Modi will chair the initial meeting to appoint a new Election Commissioner, succeeding Anup Chandra Pandey

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to chair the first meeting aimed at appointing a new Election Commissioner to succeed Anup Chandra Pandey, whose term ends upon his retirement on February 15.

This meeting, convened by PM Modi, will operate under the provisions outlined in the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Act of 2023.

The selection committee, composed of Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, is anticipated to meet to discuss the appointment of a successor for Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey.

According to government sources cited by Hindustan Times, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Congress's Lok Sabha floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury are expected to participate in the meeting, scheduled to take place at the Prime Minister's residential office at 7:30 PM.

This appointment marks the first under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Act of 2023. Previously, the President of India, based on government advice, appointed the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Election Commissioners (ECs), and all members of the Election Commission of India.

As per the Act, the selection committee comprises the Prime Minister, a Union Minister nominated by him, and the Leader of the Opposition, or the leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha. This committee will recommend a candidate to the president for appointment.

The selection process comprises two committees: The three-member selection committee is chaired by the Prime Minister.

A three-member search committee, headed by the Law Minister and comprised of two secretary-level officers, has been assigned the responsibility of proposing five candidates to the selection committee. Nonetheless, the selection committee retains the prerogative to select commissioners from beyond this list if deemed necessary.

During the debate on the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Act in the Rajya Sabha on December 12, the Opposition staged a walkout before the voice vote. They alleged that certain provisions of the bill were "undemocratic."

Despite opposition claims, the Narendra Modi-led government asserted that the bill fully complied with the directives of the highest court, indicating its alignment with the judiciary's instructions.
The bill transitioned into law on January 2, 2024, signifying its formal enactment and implementation.

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The appointment process is currently underway, coinciding with a busy period for the Election Commission of India (ECI) as it diligently prepares for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

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