VS Sampath takes over as Chief Election Commissioner

New Delhi: Veeravalli Sundaram Sampath has taken charge as the new Chief Election Commissioner today, after former chief SY Quraishi's six-year tenure ended yesterday. Mr Sampath officially assumed office this morning at the Election Commission headquarters in Delhi.

After taking charge as the new CEC, Mr Sampath said, "The commission will strive for early implementation of electoral reforms that put an end to criminalisation and money power in elections which disturbs level playing field." He said his priority will be for a clean electoral role and hassle free registration. He also said the Election Commission is currently busy preparing for the upcoming assembly elections in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura and Meghalaya. He also said an announcement on the presidential polls will soon be made.

Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi yesterday demitted office at the end of his six-year tenure after serving for almost two years as the head of Election Commission.

At a simple function at the Commission headquarters in New Delhi, he signed his relinquishing order, paving the way for his successor VS Sampath.

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On his last day in office, Mr Quraishi was given a warm send-off by officials of the Commission.

Mr Quraishi was appointed as Election Commissioner in the poll body on June 30, 2006 and had assumed charge as the 17th CEC on July 30, 2010 replacing Navin Chawla.

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Incidentally, Mr Quraishi was the first Muslim to be appointed as India's CEC.

On his retirement, Mr Quraishi told PTI he was happy and contented and would now focus his attention on a couple of writing assignments.