New Delhi: T S Krishna Murthy will be the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).

Krishna Murthy, who is at present the senior-most Election Commissioner, will take over from J M Lyngdoh who retires on February 7, official sources said.

Krishnamurthy, the first Indian Revenue Service officer to have become an Election Commissioner, joined the EC on January 30, 2000.

His tenure as CEC will end in May, 2005, when he will be 65, beyond which a person cannot continue in the post.