As a tribute to India’s first Chief Election Commissioner Sukumar Sen, the Election Commission of India organised the first memorial lecture in Delhi on Thursday. Sukumar Sen had served as the first Chief Election Commissioner of India from March 21, 1950, till 19th December 1958. The memorial lecture was addressed by former President of India Pranab Mukherjee.
The lecture was attended by Mr Sen’s family along with invitees from the national political parties, members of the academia, civil society organisations, senior civil servants and international delegates. The event commenced by the welcome speech of Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa while Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra concluded the event.
During his service, he held several important posts, including as Chief Secretary of West Bengal (1947-1950). He conducted the first two Lok Sabha elections of India held in 1952 and 1957 simultaneously with the Legislative Assembly Elections based on universal adult franchise under challenging circumstances and little precedence to guide him.