BJP govt may overlook Brahma for CEC post

The Bharatiya Janata Party government has begun the search for the new chief election commissioner when the present incumbent V S Sampath demits from office on January 15, 2015.

With insiders speculating a deviation from precedents, it is possible that Hari Shankar Brahma, who is presently number two in the EC, may not get a chance to head it.

Sources say that the government is not too keen on Brahma because he is due for retirement in the next three months. BJP insiders added that the government wants the new appointee to remain in office till 2019 to oversee the next general election.

Brahma is being offered a governorship so that he is not shunted out unceremoniously, according to a highly placed source.

Since it is mandatory to appoint the CEC a fortnight in advance, it is likely that by early January the name of the next election commissioner would be made public

The BJP government has in its six months in office sprung a few surprises, including the midnight appointment of the new chairman of the Union Public Service Commission, giving extension after extension to Ajit Seth and the removal of the revenue and finance secretaries.

If Brahma is overlooked as insiders in the system speculate such decisions will gain further acceptance.

No sources were willing to comment on the possibility that Dr Nasim Zaidi, who is number three in the EC, is also in running for the CEC spot.