Election Commissioner Arun Goel Resigns Amid Speculation, What’s Next for India’s Electoral Commission?

Days before the expected announcement of the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, election commissioner Arun Goel on Saturday resigned, sparking speculation before the sudden move. Arun Goel’s tenure was till December 5, 2027, and he would have become chief election commissioner (CEC) after incumbent Rajiv Kumar retired in February next year.

A notification by the law ministry states Arun Goel’s resignation has been accepted by President Droupadi Murmu with effect from Saturday, March 9.

While it was not immediately known why Arun Goel stepped down, some media reports indicated there were “differences on various issues” and that could be a reason for his resignation.

Questioning the shock move, Mahua Moitra of the Trinamool Congress said on X (formally Twitter), “Why does EC Arun Goel resign right after ECI’s poll review mtng in Kolkata where he left abruptly? Apparently disagreed with Delhi’s diktat on num of phases & excessive force deployment . Will now be replaced by hand picked yes man.”
Another TMC leader and MP Saket Gokhale said it was concerning that two appointments are to be made to the poll panel ahead of the general elections.

“In a sudden move, Election Commissioner Arun Goel has abruptly resigned. The post of the other EC is vacant. That leaves the Election Commission now with just one Chief Election Commissioner,” Saket Gokhale said in a post on X.

The Congress, too, expressed “deep concern” over Arun Goel’s resignation and said that if the “systematic decimation” of independent institutions is not stopped then democracy shall be usurped by dictatorship.

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“Election Commission or Election OMISSION? India now has only one Election Commissioner, even as Lok Sabha elections are to be announced in few days. Why?” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X.

“As I have said earlier, if we do not stop the systematic decimation of our independent institutions, our democracy shall be usurped by dictatorship!” Mallikarjun Kharge said.

Congress general secretary organisation KC Venugopal said in a post on X, “It is deeply concerning for the health of the world’s largest democracy that Election Commissioner Mr. Arun Goel has resigned on the cusp of the Lok Sabha elections.” rewrite this article