Anindita Mitra appointed new Punjab Chief Electoral Officer

Chandigarh: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday appointed 2007-batch IAS officer Anindita Mitra as the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Punjab, replacing 2005-batch IAS officer Sibin C, who proceeds on central deputation to join as joint secretary in the Union ministry of health & family welfare. The appointment of the new Punjab CEO comes ahead of the 2027 Punjab elections, which are about 1 year away.As per a notification by the ECI on Thursday, the ECI, in consultation with the govt of Punjab, designated Mitra as the Punjab CEO "with effect from the date she takes over charge and until further orders in place of Sibin C."The notification said that Mitra "shall cease to hold and hand over forthwith the charge of all or any charge of work under the govt of Punjab, which she may be holding before such assumption of office." The notification also read that Mitra "while functioning as the Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab shall not hold any additional charge whatsoever under the govt of Punjab except that she should be designated secretary to the govt in charge of the Election Department in the State Secretariat." Mitra served as Punjab education secretary before her appointment as Punjab CEO on Thursday. The EC approved the name of Mitra as the new Punjab CEO from among a panel of 3 IAS officers sent to the ECI on July 11 last year. In correspondence to the Punjab chief secretary on Thursday on the appointment of Mitra as Punjab CEO, the ECI noted, "It may be ensured that Anindita Mitra assumes charge of the office of the CEO, Punjab immediately. A compliance to the above effect may be sent to the Commission within a week." Sibin took over as Punjab CEO in Feb 2023. During his nearly 3-year-long tenure as Punjab CEO, he oversaw the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the State, 1 Lok Sabha by-election, 1 Rajya Sabha by-election, and 7 Vidhan Sabha by-elections. He is likely to be relieved of the charge of Punjab CEO on Friday.MSID: 126546992 413 |