As expected, retired IAS officer and former Andhra Pradesh chief secretary Neelam Sawhney has been appointed as the new State Election Commissioner (SEC), in place of Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, who will be relinquishing his office on March 31 on attainment of superannuation.
According to an official statement from the chief minister’s office, Governor Biswa Bhushan Harichandan has approved the name of Neelam Sawhney for the appointment as SEC.
However, Neelam has to resign from her present post as the principal advisor to the chief minister, before accepting the post of the SEC.
“Her appointment is subject to her resignation from her existing post, before taking responsibilities of the SEC,” the official statement said.
The appointment of the new SEC happened at a breakneck speed this morning.
The Jagan cabinet, which shortlisted three names of retired IAS officers for the SEC poist and sent the panel of these three names to the Governor. Recommending the name of Neelam Sawhney in particular.
Since it is a just a formality, the Governor gave his nod to the appointment of Neelam.
There was a talk till recently that Justice Kanagaraj would be back as the SEC soon after the retirement of Nimmagadda on March 31.
Jagan also reportedly gave an assurance to Justice Kanagaraj that he would be brought back as SEC.
However, the chief minister changed his mind and considered the name of Neelam Sawhney for the post of SEC.
She has been appointed as the principal advisor to the government soon after her retirement on December 31, after two rounds of extension as chief secretary.
Since Neelam is a hardcore loyalist of Jagan, she would be a better choice for the SEC, which would be a constitutional post.
During her tenure as CS, she had put up a strong fight with Nimmagadda over the postponement of local body elections in March 2020 and the conduct of elections in February 2021.
Since she knows how the SEC should have a coordination with the government, she could be a better choice for the SEC post, say these reports.