Election Commissioner V S Sampath was today appointed the new Chief Election Commissioner. 62-year-old Sampath will take over as CEC after incumbent S Y Quraishi demits office on June 10. Brushing aside BJP Leader L K Advani's suggestion for a collegium to decide on appointment of CEC and CAG, the government went ahead and named the 1973-batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre. Official sources said, President Pratibha Patil cleared his appointment this evening.

Mr. Sampat has had stints in varied positions in Andhra Pradesh and Delhi and was Power Secretary at the Centre before he was appointed Election Commissioner in April, 2009.