The upcoming Haryana Assembly election will be held under the leadership of a new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). The Haryana government has appointed senior IAS officer Pankaj Agarwal (IAS:2000:HY) as the state’s Chief Electoral Officer. The state government had sent a panel of three IAS officers, including Pankaj Agarwal (IAS:2000:HY), PC Meena (IAS:2004:HY), and A Mona Sreenivas (IAS:2006:HY), to the Election Commission of India for approval. After receiving approval, the state government issued the order appointing Pankaj Agarwal as Chief Electoral Officer.
Currently, Pankaj Agarwal serves as the Commissioner and Secretary of the Irrigation and Water Resources Department and the Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department. Renowned for his integrity and goal-oriented approach, Agarwal is one of the most trusted and performance-driven officers in his cadre. With Assembly elections scheduled for later this year, his appointment to this crucial role demonstrates the administration’s strong confidence in him.
On Thursday, the state government issued transfer orders for 12 IAS officers. Among these, Anurag Agarwal (IAS:1994:HY), the incumbent Chief Electoral Officer, was posted as Additional Chief Secretary of the PWD (B&R), Architecture Department, and Irrigation & Water Resources Department. Notably, Anurag Agarwal was promoted to Chief Secretary grade only last week.
The state government had sent a panel for the Chief Electoral Officer last year too, the Commission did not accept the government’s panel in view of the Lok Sabha elections and directed Anurag Agarwal to remain the Chief Electoral Officer.
