Daily Briefing: New CEC appointed amid pending pleas in SC; what led to the Delhi stampede

• New CEC, and a new law
• RPF inquiry report on Delhi stampede
• Next steps for the INDIA alliance

🚨 Big Story

On Monday, President Draupadi Murmu appointed Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). The appointment came hours after the meeting of the Prime Minister-headed high level committee where Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi asked the Government to defer the appointment until Wednesday, when the Supreme Court would rule on the petitions challenging the new appointment process..

New law, new CEC: Appointed under the new law—Chief Election Commissioner And Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service And Term of Office) Act, 2023—Kumar played a pivotal role when Article 370 was abrogated in 2019. He has been entrusted by the Narendra Modi government as he was not only given the responsibility of formulating the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, but was also involved in the setting up of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Know more about the new CEC here.

The new EC: Three months after he was appointed the Chief Secretary of Haryana, Vivek Joshi, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Haryana cadre, was appointed Election Commissioner (EC). As an IAS officer, Joshi, who began his bureaucratic career in 1991 as a sub-district officer (civil) in Haryana’s Gohana town, is due to retire from IAS in 2026. During his nearly 34 years as an IAS officer, he has served the Central government on deputation for almost 18 years.

Farewell: The CEC Rajiv Kumar, who concluded his term on Monday, stated that the court proceedings in “long-pending” cases related to polls should be scheduled “with due consideration to the election period” so as to ensure a “smooth” electoral process. In his farewell address, he also expressed concerns over the “live reporting” of hearings, and “rumours” being spread during “critical” periods of elections.

⚡ Only in Express

Unfinished business?: Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda is nearing the end of a five-year run at the helm of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Soon, Nadda will make way for a new face who will steer the party in the next couple of years. In our weekly tracker, Liz Mathew writes: “For the next BJP chief, establishing the party’s dominance in the South remains one of the primary tasks. While the party grew rapidly and consolidated itself under Shah and Nadda in the North, West, East, and Northeast, the party’s position in the South remains tenuous.”

What’s up with the INDIA alliance? After the Delhi election results, it is the continuation of the bloc of Opposition parties that has become the subject of an animated discussion. Our columnist Neerja Chowdhury, delving upon the dilemma being faced by the Opposition, writes: “A classic dilemma that most regional parties now face is that they are more comfortable dealing with a weak rather than a strong Congress. The belief that the Congress and these regional parties will gain or lose only at each others’ expense is only a half-truth and underlines their failure to tap into the BJP’s base.”

📰 From the Front Page

Cause of action: The stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night was set off by an announcement about a change in the departure platform of a Kumbh Special train to Prayagraj, according to an inquiry report by the Railway Protection Force (RPF). This report on the incident which claimed 18 lives is one of the many reports multiple departments have been asked to file. The two-member high-level committee set up by the Railways will then cross-question and come to a conclusion.

🎧 For more, tune in to today’s episode of the ‘3 Things’ podcast where our correspondent who covers the Railways ministry explains what led to the stampede and how it could have been prevented.

Ray of hope: India and the US are in the middle of discussions over a bilateral trade agreement to increase trade to $500 billion (by 2030). In the process, New Delhi is hoping to secure concessions on the sweeping tariffs announced by President Donald Trump. This includes the 25 per cent tariff on all steel and aluminium, and the reciprocal tariffs that could impact India’s exports.However, India is much lower in the trade deficit hierarchy and not as much the target, as per a senior government official in Washington DC.

📌 Must Read

A diplomatic upside: India and the US announced a renewed nuclear cooperation to “fully realise” the US-India 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement. This is significant for India especially after a rather concessionary first interaction with the tariff-obsessed new administration. Now, there are three clear gains from New Delhi’s perspective:

• Large scale localisation and possible technology transfer
• Chance for India’s nuclear sector to upgrade its reactor specialisation and an ability to scale up capacity addition
• Strategic incentive for India-US to compete with China in the Small Module Reactors (SMR) space

“The fault lies with the cramping of our imagination of social justice in contemporary India… All battles for social justice turn into battles for and against quota, or quota within quota.”

In his latest ‘Deshkaal’ piece, columnist Yogendra Yadav writes on why social justice for Muslims should not be about reservations. With this, he argues that “affirmative action has become synonymous with reservation” while the real need of the hour are policies to address the pressing disadvantages of various Muslim communities

⏳ And Finally…

The Afghan campaign at CT 2025: At the Champions Trophy kicking off tomorrow (February 19), Afghanistan’s formidable spin attack led by bowlers Rashid Khan & Co is expected. But the team’s progress will depend on whether the batters – not exactly as glamorous or feted – manage to shine. It is Azmatullah Omarzai, Younis Khan and the likes who will need to put runs on the board, to allow their tweakers a chance for chokeholds. Playing in Pakistan, and lumped in the group with Australia, South Africa and England, could be a potential reality check or sternest test of their batting cred, at any rate.

That’s all for today!

Until tomorrow,
Ariba and Vibha

Business As Usual by E P Unny