Om Prakash Rawat is the new Chief Election Commissioner

New Delhi: Om Prakash Rawat has been elevated as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Sunday, confirmed the official sources.

He will take the charge of CEC on January 23.

The 64-year-old former Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer, who was currently serving as the Election Commissioner, will replace Achal Kumar Joti at the post.

Rawat had taken charge as the Election Commissioner in August 2015.

It is worth mentioning that he has earlier held portfolios at the Centre and in various states.

He had also been sent to South Africa in May 1994 as the United Nations’ election observer to oversee the first post-apartheid elections there.

Meanwhile, Ashok Lavasa, who was the former finance secretary, has been appointed as the new election commissioner.