Maharashtra Government as per the orders of Governor, appointed senior IAS officer Dinesh Waghmare as State Election Commissioner. Waghmare hails from Vidarbha. Presently, he is Principal Secretary at Department of Medical Education and Research. Maharashtra Cabinet had last week empowered Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to recommend candidates for this significant role. Waghmare’s term as State Election Commissioner will be of five years and he will handle the responsibility of supervision, direction, control of electoral roll preparation and conducting elections. His term is non-extendable which starts on January 20, 2025, or from the date he assumes office. The post was vacant after the tenure of U P S Madan came to an end last year.

 

The appointment was made by the Governor of Maharashtra under the provisions of Article 243-K and Article 243-ZA of the Constitution of India, alongside the Maharashtra State Election Commissioner (Qualifications and Appointment) Act, 1994. The order is issued by Manisha Patankar-Mhaiskar, Additional Chief Secretary and Chief Protocol Officer Waghmare did his school education in Kamptee and Wardha. He studied in Hislop College at Nagpur, earned degree in engineering from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) (erstwhile VRCE). He pursued further education in engineering in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur.

 

While talking to ‘The Hitavada’ Waghmare expressed happiness over the appointment. Waghmare has to resign from his present post as he can’t hold the office of profit while working as State Election Commissioner. Once his resignation is accepted he would take charge as SEC. Dinesh Waghmare Takes Charge as Maharashtra State Election Commissioner.