<p>Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi is set to become the next Chief Election Commissioner later this month.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Law Ministry has initiated the file to appoint the next CEC as present incumbent H S Brahma retires on April 19.<br /><br />Highly-placed sources in the government today said that the Law Ministry has cited convention of appointing the senior-most EC as the CEC.<br /><br />Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leaving on a foreign tour tomorrow, there is sense of urgency to clear the paperwork today as the file will travel to Rashtrapati Bhawan for the President to appoint the CEC.<br /><br />After Zaidi's appointment, the government will set in motion the process to appoint two Election Commissioners to fill vacancies in the three-member body. "But as of now, we are appointing a new CEC. A decision on ECs will come later," a senior government functionary said.<br /><br />After V S Sampath demitted office in January, Brahma was elevated as CEC. But the post which fell vacant after Brahma's elevation has not been filled up so far.<br /><br />After Brahma retires on April 19, Zaidi will be the only member of the three-member poll watchdog.<br /><br />Zaidi will have a tenure up to July, 2017 when he attains the age of 65.<br /><br />An EC or a CEC has a tenure of six years in office or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.<br />A 1976 batch IAS officer, Zaidi has worked in the Civil Aviation Ministry for a long time.</p>
<p>Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi is set to become the next Chief Election Commissioner later this month.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Law Ministry has initiated the file to appoint the next CEC as present incumbent H S Brahma retires on April 19.<br /><br />Highly-placed sources in the government today said that the Law Ministry has cited convention of appointing the senior-most EC as the CEC.<br /><br />Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leaving on a foreign tour tomorrow, there is sense of urgency to clear the paperwork today as the file will travel to Rashtrapati Bhawan for the President to appoint the CEC.<br /><br />After Zaidi's appointment, the government will set in motion the process to appoint two Election Commissioners to fill vacancies in the three-member body. "But as of now, we are appointing a new CEC. A decision on ECs will come later," a senior government functionary said.<br /><br />After V S Sampath demitted office in January, Brahma was elevated as CEC. But the post which fell vacant after Brahma's elevation has not been filled up so far.<br /><br />After Brahma retires on April 19, Zaidi will be the only member of the three-member poll watchdog.<br /><br />Zaidi will have a tenure up to July, 2017 when he attains the age of 65.<br /><br />An EC or a CEC has a tenure of six years in office or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.<br />A 1976 batch IAS officer, Zaidi has worked in the Civil Aviation Ministry for a long time.</p>