S Y Quraishi Takes Charge as Chief Election Commissioner
New Delhi, July 30: S Y Quraishi Friday took over as India's new chief election commissioner becoming the first Muslim in the country to occupy the post.
He takes over from Navin Chawla, who held the post for one-and-a-half years.
Quraishi had said Thursday that he was taking over the post with "great pride and humility". "I request the cooperation of all stakeholders, especially the people of this great country to fulfil my responsibilities."
Sixty-three-year-old Quraishi, who replaced Navin Chwala to become the 17th CEC, had been an election commissioner since June 30, 2006, and had been involved with the control and supervision of the presidential and vice president elections, the 2009 general elections, besides state elections.
An Indian Administrative Official of the 1971 batch, he was the secretary of the ministry of youth affairs and sports before joining the commission.
According to the Election Commiossion of India, Quraishi is an ardent proponent for strengthening the grassroots level election functionaries and has brought a special focus on people's participation, voters' education and youth involvement in the electoral process through scientific research and interventions.
The new CEC has also penned a number of books and articles on issues related to democracy, elections, HIV AIDS and family planning, social marketing, women and child development and youth.