New Delhi, June 11 (IANS) V.S. Sampath Monday assumed office as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India and said that the announcement of dates for the presidential elections would be made shortly.

Sampath joined the Election Commission (EC) of India as election commissioner in April 2009. He succeeds S.Y. Quraishi as the CEC.

Talking to media persons about his priorities, Sampath said he would work towards electoral reforms that can check criminalisation and money power in elections.

Speaking about the presidential polls, Sampath said: Preparatory work is in full swing and an announcement regarding the election schedule is due shortly.

An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1973 batch, Sampath has held important positions in the government of Andhra Pradesh and in the central government.