Nasim Zaidi takes charge as 20th chief election commissioner
In appointing Zaidi as the CEC, the government has carried on with the convention of elevating the senior-most election commissioner
New Delhi: Conducting free and fair elections “at all costs" will be the aim of the election commission, Nasim Zaidi, who took charge as the 20th chief election commissioner (CEC) on Sunday, said.
Zaidi’s tenure will end in July 2017, when he attains the age of 65.
“Holding of free and fair elections at all costs based on error-free electoral rolls will be the aim of the election commission," he said, soon after assuming charge.
Inclusion of all sections of the society in voting lists and voter-centric programmes such as easy registration will be his focus areas, Zaidi said. While continuing with the legacy of his predecessors, he would strive to make the poll watchdog a “more vibrant and transparent organisation".
In appointing Zaidi as the CEC, the government has carried on with the convention of elevating the senior-most election commissioner. Zaidi took over from Hari Shankar Brahma, who demitted office on Saturday,
Incidentally, Zaidi is the only one left in the three-member constitutional body after the other members retired. The government is yet to fill up the vacancies of two election commissioners.
The law ministry has already informed the Prime Minister’s Office of the vacancies and a decision on the issue is expected soon, people familiar with the developments said. An IAS officer of the 1976 batch, Zaidi has worked in the civil aviation ministry for a long time.
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