Sunil Arora takes charge as Chief Election Commissioner, to oversee 2019 general elections

A CEC or an EC can have a tenure of six years or hold office till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. 

Sunil Arora, who on Sunday took over as the Chief Election Commissioner of India,  after he was formally appointed by President Ram Nath Kovind earlier in the week, assumes charge at a time when the poll panel is in the midst of conducting assembly elections in five states

The Election Commission will hold the 2019 general election under Arora. 

Moreover, Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are scheduled to be held next year.

In Rajasthan, besides district postings in Dholpur, Alwar, Nagaur and Jodhpur, he was secretary to the chief minister during 1993-1998 and principal secretary to the CM from 2005-2008. He had also handled information and public relations (IPR), industries and investment departments.

A 1980-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, Arora had been the information and broadcasting secretary, and the secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Arora has worked in ministries such as finance, textiles and the Planning Commission.

He had also served as the joint secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation from 1999-2002 and the chief managing director (CMD) of the Indian Airlines for five years.