Harishankar Brahma appointed as Election Commissioner

New Delhi, Aug 24 (ANI): Former Union Power Secretary Harishankar Brahma has been appointed as the Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India.

"The President is pleased to appoint Harishankar Brahma as the Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India with effect from the date he assumes the Office," said a press release.

Brahma, a 1975 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, hails from Assam, and is the second person from the North East after JM Lyngdoh, who had retired as Chief Election Commissioner in 2004.

The post of an Election Commissioner had fallen vacant after the elevation of SY Quraishi as Chief Election Commissioner on July 30.

Quraishi took over as the 17th Chief Election Commissioner from Navin Chawla, who held the post for one and a half years. (ANI)