President appoints Chawla as the new CEC

New Delhi: Election Commissioner Naveen Chawla will be the next Chief Election Commissioner of India.

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Wednesday appointed Chawla as the next Chief Election Commissioner will effect from April 20, said a Rashtrapati Bhawan spokesperson.

The current CEC N Gopalaswamy will retire on April 20, 2009.

Chawla’s tenure as an Election Commissioner has been controversial with Gopalaswamy even recommending to the President to remove Chawla.

President rejected the recommendation of Gopalaswami after the Law Ministry forwarded its views.

With the Lok Sabha election schedule already announced it means a major part of the elections to the 15th General Assembly will be held under Chawla's supervision.