VS Sampath appointed new Chief Election Commissioner

Election Commissioner VS Sampath was today appointed the new Chief Election Commissioner who will preside over the next Lok Sabha general elections in 2014.

62-year-old Sampath will take over as CEC after incumbent SY Quraishi demits office on June 10.

Brushing aside BJP Leader LK Advani's suggestion for a collegium to decide on appointment of CEC and CAG, the government went ahead and named the 1973-batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre.

President Pratibha Patil cleared his appointment this evening, official sources said.

A low-profile bureaucrat who has had stints in varied positions in Andhra Pradesh and Delhi, Veeravalli Sundaram Sampath was Power Secretary at the Centre before he was appointed Election Commissioner in April, 2009.

Born on January 16, 1950, Sampath will be at the helm of Election Commission until January, 2015 when he attains 65 years.

Under the Constitution, an EC or the CEC can remain in office either for a six year term or till 65 years, whichever is earlier.

Consequent to Sampath's appointment, Government will soon be naming his replacement as Election Commissioner.

After Sampath, the other Commissioner HS Brahma becomes the next in seniority in the three-member Commission.