The Central government has appointed Hari Shankar Brahma as the new Commissioner of the Chief Election Commission in place of VS Sampath, whose tenure ended today. However, Brahma could head the Election panel till April 19 as he would turn 65, the upper age limit for the post under the Constitution. Brahma will take charge of EC on Friday, added the authorities.

HS Brahma is a 1975-batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre who hails from Assam state. He also become the second officer from the northeast to be appointed as the Commissioner of EC after J M Lyndogh. Brahma worked as the Union Power Secretary before his induction into the Election Commission. He assumed charge as one of the three Election Commissioners on August 25, 2010.