New Delhi: It's the last day in office for Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami. He will be given a send-off from the Election Commission on Monday as his five-year term comes to an end.
His rival Navin Chawl will take over in his place as the new CEC. V S Sampath will fill the vacancy of Election Commissioner left by Chawla's elevation as Chief Election Commissioner.
Chawla, an IAS officer of the 1969 batch, will hold charge till July 29, 2010 when he will attain the age of 65 years.
Chawla, is taking over in the midst of the five-phased Lok Sabha elections. He will oversee four phases of the polls.
The elevation of Chawla, who was appointed as Election Commissioner on May 13,2005, comes after a controversy triggered by Gopalaswami's recommendation to the President for his removal from office for alleged "partisan" functioning.
Chawla has been elevated to CEC's post on the advice of the government, which had rejected Gopalaswami's plea for his removal, saying there was no merit in the allegations against the election commissioner.
The Chief Election Commissioner, a Constitutional post, enjoys a term of six years or till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.