New Delhi, Apr 21 : Election Commissioner Navin Chawla will take over as the Chief Election Commissioner today as N. Gopalaswami demits office .

Power Secretary V S Sampath will take over as Election Commissioner following the elevation of Chawla.

Chawla, who was appointed Election Commissioner on May the 16, 2005, will hold charge till July 29, 2010.

Chawla, who will be taking over in the midst of the five-phased Lok Sabha elections, will oversee four phases of the polls.

Chawla, an IAS officer of the 1969 batch, had recently been in the news as the Chief Election Commissioner of India had unilaterally recommended his removal from the Election Commission on grounds of partisanship.

The recommendation was rejected by the President on March 1, 2009. (ANI)