Om Prakash Rawat, a former Madhya Pradesh cadre Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer, has been appointed as the new Election Commissioner, days before dates of the Bihar Assembly elections are announced.
His appointment will come into effect from the day he assumes office, a law ministry statement said. He is a 1977 batch IAS officer and retired in December 2014. With Rawat’s appointment, the sole vacancy in the three-member poll body has been filled. Rawat’s reputation as an IAS officer is that of an average performer but one the BJP relied on heavily.
During his career, he served with two chief ministers as their principal secretary, both from the BJP. He cut his spurs with Sunderlal Patwa and became a familiar face to the BJP establishment in the state; and then again served with the eccentric chief minister Babulal Gaur from 2004 to 2006. Rawat, his colleagues feel, has been rewarded for loyal if uninspiring service.
