Achal Kumar Joti is next Chief Election Commissioner of India

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday named Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti the next Chief Election Commissioner of India.The Ministry of Law announced Joti's appointment and said he will take charge as the CEC on July 6, when incumbent Nasim Zaidi retires.64-year-old Joti was appointed Election Commissioner in May 2015. An IAS officer of 1975 batch from Gujarat cadre, he had served as chief secretary of Gujarat during Narendra Modi 's tenure as chief minister.The Chief Election Commissioner heads the Election Commission of India and has tenure of six years in office or till he or she attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. As CEC of India, Joti will be overseeing state Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh before demitting office in January 2018.Joti, who will be the 21st CEC, has also served as the Gujarat vigilance commissioner and worked in various capacities in the state, including as the chairman of the Kandla Port Trust between 1999 and 2004 and the managing director of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL).He was also the secretary in the industry, revenue and water supply departments in the state.