Chandigarh: In a key administrative appointment, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has named senior IAS officer A Sreenivas (IAS:2004:HY) as the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Haryana.
He takes over from Pankaj Agarwal (IAS:2000:HY), who has now been assigned the role of Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
The ECI formally communicated the appointment to the Haryana Chief Secretary through an official letter dated June 16, 2025.
Selection Process and Background
Sreenivas, currently serving as Secretary, Energy Department and Managing Director of Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd., was selected from a panel of three senior IAS officers recommended by the Haryana government. The panel also comprised:
- Atul Kumar (IAS:2007:HY) – Transport Commissioner and Secretary, Transport Department
- Dusmanta Kumar Behera (IAS:2007:HY) – Secretary, Development & Panchayats Department, Director General, Industries & Commerce, and MSME
Being the senior-most in the list, A Sreenivas was chosen by the Election Commission to helm the crucial position responsible for overseeing electoral processes in the state.
Outgoing CEO Praised for 2024 Election Oversight
Pankaj Agarwal, who held the CEO post since July 2024, has been widely credited for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the Haryana Assembly Elections on October 5, 2024. His leadership was commended by various political stakeholders and civil society organisations for ensuring a free and fair electoral process.
He is now set to lead the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare as Principal Secretary, following the major IAS reshuffle announced on June 12, 2025, which impacted 31 senior officers in the state.
What Lies Ahead
As the new CEO, A Sreenivas will oversee the voter registration processes, election planning, coordination with political parties, and enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct in the state. His administrative experience in energy distribution and public service delivery is expected to aid his transition into this critical democratic role.
