In a key administrative move, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed senior IAS officer V Anbukumar (IAS:2004:KN) as the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for Karnataka. The official notification from the ECI was issued on July 7, 2025.
To facilitate this transition, the Karnataka government released an order on July 8, relieving Anbukumar of his duties as Secretary, Housing Department, Bengaluru. He will now also serve as Ex-officio Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Elections), where he will be responsible for supervising the state’s electoral affairs and coordinating with the Election Commission.
Anbukumar takes over from Manoj Kumar Meena (IAS:2003:KN), who had held the CEO position since October 2021. During his tenure, Meena oversaw the 2023 Legislative Assembly elections and several important by-elections. He has currently been placed on a waitlist for his next assignment, with further postings expected soon.
A career civil servant from the 2004 batch of the Karnataka cadre, V Anbukumar has held several pivotal roles in urban administration, municipal governance, and infrastructure planning. His appointment as CEO comes at a crucial juncture, with preparations already underway for the 2026 Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections and the upcoming panchayat polls.
Anbukumar’s extensive experience in public administration positions him well to manage Karnataka’s electoral challenges and maintain transparency and efficiency in the election process.
