Arora, a 1980 batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre was appointed Election Commissioner in September last year.
Sunil Arora is likely to be appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner, highly-placed sources in the Law Ministry told PTI. He is expected to take charge from Om Prakash Rawat on December 2.
Though a formal notification announcing his appointment is yet to be issued, his name has been cleared by the Centre and sent to Rashtrapati Bhawan, the sources said.
"Yes. His name has been cleared. He is the next CEC. A notification will follow," a senior functionary said. He will take over on December 2. The Election Commission will hold the 2019 general election under him.
Besides the Lok Sabha polls, Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Odisha, Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are scheduled to be held next year.
A CEC of the Election Commission can have a tenure of six years or hold office till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. The convention is to appoint the senior-most election commissioner as chief election commissioner.
Arora, a 1980 batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre was appointed Election Commissioner in September last year.
Arora has also served as the Information and Broadcasting Secretary, and Secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. He has worked in ministries and departments such as Finance, Textiles and Planning Commission. He also served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation during 1999-2002 and CMD, Indian Airlines for five years (two years as additional charge and three years as full charge).
He was Secretary to the Chief Minister during 1993-1998 and Principal Secretary to CM (2005- 2008) and handled Information and Public Relations (IPR), Industries and Investment Departments.
(With PTI inputs)
