In the realm of administrative selections, the emergence of Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Gyanesh Kumar as the freshly appointed election commissioners has been heralded. This decision was borne out of deliberations conducted by a consortium led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as confirmed by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a constituent of the committee and a notable figure within the Congress party.

In a press conference convened promptly post the session’s culmination, Chowdhury articulated that six individuals were brought forth for consideration by the panel, tasked with determining the duo for the esteemed positions of ECs. Eventually, it was the consensus of a majority of the panel’s members that Sandhu and Kumar were the prime candidates for this responsibility.

However, a notable contention arose regarding the absence of the Chief Justice of India from the selection committee, prompting uncertainty regarding the process that led to the shortlisting of six candidates from a purported pool exceeding 200 aspirants, as managed by the Law Minister-led search committee.

Amongst the half-dozen contenders shortlisted were Utpal Kumar Singh, Pradeep Kumar Tripathi, Gyanesh Kumar, Indevar Pandey, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, and Sudhir Kumar Gangadhar Rahate, all distinguished former bureaucrats. Chowdhury clarified that from this selection, the names of Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu were earmarked for ascension to the position of election commissioners.

Gyanesh Kumar’s previous stewardship within the Home Ministry notably encapsulated the pivotal phase of Article 370’s abrogation. These vacancies arose subsequent to the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey on February 14 and the abrupt resignation of Arun Goel.