Hari Shankar Brahma, a former secretary in the ministry of energy, has been appointed as election commissioner. A former Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer of 1975 seniority hails from Bodoland. After J M Lyndogh, Brahma is the second officer from the northeast to be appointed to this post. Insiders say he is a personal choice of the prime minister.

Brahma's appointment comes after Navin Chawla's retirement last month. Chawla was embroiled in a controversy and then chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami had even written to the president  to remove him, denting the UPA's image. Therefore, Manmohan Singh decided to go in for a non-controversial officer for the sensitive post. Thus, Brahma and the other election commissioner, V S Sampath, were handpicked by Manmnohan Singh himself.

The next crucial appointment on cards is that of the central vigilance commissioner. It remains to be seen if the PM will have his way in the selection. A panel of names is under consideration by a committee of the prime minister and the leader of opposition.