New Delhi: Weeks before Lok Sabha polls, Election Commissioner Arun Goel has resigned from the key post.
The President of India Droupadi Murmu has accepted his resignation with effect from March 9, 2024.
“In pursuance of clause (1) of Section 11 of The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, the President is pleased to accept the resignation tendered by Shri Arun Goel, Election Commissioner with effect from the 9th March 2024,” said a gazette notification from Ministry of Law and Justice.
Who is Arun Goel?
Goel, a retired IAS officer of 1985 batch (Punjab cadre) had assumed the charge as Election Commissioner of India in November 2022. His appointment sparked controversy due to his voluntary retirement from the Indian Administrative Services on November 18, 2022. He was appointed to the Election Commission a day later.
Why Arun Goel resigned?
Goel attributed his resignation to "personal reasons", sources said. Speculation about health being a factor in his resignation was dismissed, with sources confirming that Goel is in “perfect health".
With Goel resigning, the poll panel is now left only with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar.
The Parliament had late last year passed a legislation providing for a mechanism which ensures bigger say of government in appointment Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Election Commissioners (ECs).
Accordingly, the CEC and ECs will be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of the Prime Minister, a Union Cabinet Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition or leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha.
The opposition parties had opposed the mechanism arguing that it will have implications on the independence of the poll body. They claimed that the government had brought the new law to circumvent a judgement of the Supreme Court related to the appointments of the CEC and the ECs.
With the three-member Election Commission of India now left with only CEC, there is a possibility of delay in announcement of the poll schedule for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
After Arun Goel quits; Kharge asks Election Commission or Election Omission
The Congress expressed deep concern over the resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel just days before the announcement of Lok Sabha elections.
On social media post X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that as Lok Sabha elections are about to be announced, "India is left with only one Election Commissioner.".
"As I have said earlier, if we do not stop the systematic decimation of our independent institutions, our DEMOCRACY shall be usurped by dictatorship!"" Kharge said.
He said, "ECI will now be among the last Constitutional institutions to fall."
Alleging that the new process of selecting the Election Commissioners has given all the power to the ruling party, Kharge, through his post, asked the Prime Minister, "Why has the new Election Commissioner not been appointed even after 23 of the completion of latter's tenure?"
Modi government must answer these questions and come out with a reasonable explanation, Kharge said.