Ashok Lavasa assumes charge as Election Commissioner of India

Ashok Lavasa on January 23, 2018 assumed charge as the Election Commissioner (EC) of India. He was appointed to the post by President Ram Nath Kovind on January 21, 2018.

Lavasa succeeds Om Prakash Rawat, who was elevated as the Chief Election Commissioner. The third member of the top election body is Election Commissioner Sunil Arora.

Lavasa’s term as Election Commissioner would end in October 2022 and would thereafter serve as the Chief Election Commissioner.

About Ashok Lavasa
• Born on October 21, 1957, Lavasa is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from Haryana cadre of 1980 batch.

• Lavasa formerly served as the Finance Secretary in the Union Finance Ministry and retired from the post on October 31, 2017.

• In his 37 years of long active service, he has held various crucial positions in Haryana State Government and in the Central Government.

• He served in key positions namely, Principal Secretary and Financial Commissioner (Renewable Energy Sources, Power), Chief Coordinator (Industries), Resident Commissioner of Haryana, Director of HSIDC, Union Finance Secretary, Union Civil Aviation Secretary and several other positions.

What is expected out of Lavasa as Election Commissioner?
During his tenure as Election Commissioner, Lavasa would oversee the General Elections to Legislative Assemblies of almost 28 states including ongoing General Elections in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.

Besides this, he would also oversee the General Election to the Lok Sabha in 2019.

Om Prakash Rawat appointed New Chief Election Commissioner