Achal K Jyoti takes over as new Election Commissioner

Achal Kumar Jyoti, a former chief secretary of Gujarat during Narendra Modi's tenure as chief minister, on Wednesday took over as the new Election Commissioner, filling one of the two vacancies in the three-member body.

"Jyoti took charge on Wednesday at the Election Commission of India," a senior official said.

Jyoti is a 1975-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who retired as state Gujarat chief secretary in January 2013.

He served in the top post in Gujarat when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chief minister.

Jyoti (62) had also served as the state Vigilance Commissioner and worked in various capacities in his cadre including as chairman of the Kandla Port Trust between 1999 and 2004 and managing director of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL).

Born on January 23, 1953, Jyoti will have a tenure of nearly three years as ECs demit office at the age of 65.

An EC or a CEC has a tenure of six years in office or till he or she attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

After V S Sampath demitted office in January, H S Brahma was elevated as CEC. But after Brahma demitted office, two posts of ECs in the three-member body have remained vacant.

Between April 19, when Nasim Zaidi took over as the CEC till today, he was the only member in the poll body.

The government is soon expected to appoint one more Election Commissioner to fill up the last vacancy.

Jyoti has also worked as Secretary in the Industry, Revenue and Water Supply Departments.