Gyanesh Kumar, the current Chief election Commissioner (CEC), is widely regarded as a close associate of Union home minister amit shah, owing to a long professional history of working under his leadership. From 2022 to 2024, Kumar served as Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation, a department directly overseen by Shah.
Before that, during Shah’s tenure as home minister, Kumar held key positions in the Ministry of home Affairs (MHA), gaining a reputation as a trusted bureaucrat capable of handling politically sensitive and high-stakes assignments. His proximity to Shah and his involvement in major policy moves have made him a significant figure in the current political-administrative landscape.
One of Kumar’s most high-profile roles came during the abrogation of article 370 in 2019. As Additional Secretary in the MHA, he was a central figure in drafting the Jammu & kashmir Reorganisation Bill, which split the state into two Union Territories, and in coordinating the post-abrogation administrative and security measures.
This involved meticulous planning, discreet political negotiations, and managing a complex security situation on the ground. His work during this period cemented his image as a behind-the-scenes strategist who could execute the government’s most ambitious and controversial policies with precision.
Kumar also played a pivotal role in religious and cultural policy implementation, most notably in the formation of the Shri ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Tasked with overseeing the trust’s establishment, he was involved in laying the institutional groundwork for the construction of the ram mandir in ayodhya — a project of immense political and symbolic importance to the bjp and its allies.
With such a track record, Kumar’s elevation to the role of CEC has drawn both praise from supporters, who view him as a capable and disciplined administrator, and criticism from opponents, who question the neutrality of an election chief with such close ties to the ruling establishment.
Before that, during Shah’s tenure as home minister, Kumar held key positions in the Ministry of home Affairs (MHA), gaining a reputation as a trusted bureaucrat capable of handling politically sensitive and high-stakes assignments. His proximity to Shah and his involvement in major policy moves have made him a significant figure in the current political-administrative landscape.
One of Kumar’s most high-profile roles came during the abrogation of article 370 in 2019. As Additional Secretary in the MHA, he was a central figure in drafting the Jammu & kashmir Reorganisation Bill, which split the state into two Union Territories, and in coordinating the post-abrogation administrative and security measures.
This involved meticulous planning, discreet political negotiations, and managing a complex security situation on the ground. His work during this period cemented his image as a behind-the-scenes strategist who could execute the government’s most ambitious and controversial policies with precision.
Kumar also played a pivotal role in religious and cultural policy implementation, most notably in the formation of the Shri ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Tasked with overseeing the trust’s establishment, he was involved in laying the institutional groundwork for the construction of the ram mandir in ayodhya — a project of immense political and symbolic importance to the bjp and its allies.
With such a track record, Kumar’s elevation to the role of CEC has drawn both praise from supporters, who view him as a capable and disciplined administrator, and criticism from opponents, who question the neutrality of an election chief with such close ties to the ruling establishment.