Election Commissioner Arun Goel Resigns Ahead of Crucial Lok Sabha Polls

Ahead of the much-anticipated Lok Sabha elections 2024, Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigned from his post on Saturday. According to the reports, he handed over his resignation to the President's office, which has been approved. Lok Sabha elections are slated to be held in April-May and it was expected that the ECI may announce dates for polling by next March 15.

The Election Commission of India already had a vacancy and will now be left only with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

A gazette notification issued on Saturday reads: "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 March 9, 2024."

Before Arun Goel, Ashok Lavasa had resigned as Election Commissioner in August 2020. He had given dissent notes on various model code violation decisions taken by the EC in the last Lok Sabha polls. Originally, the commission had only a CEC.

How An Election Commissioner Is Selected?

As per the new amendment, the government of Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill 2023 was passed in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and later by the president of India, Droupadi Murmu. Under this law, a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition a leader from the single-largest party in Lok Sabha, and a Cabinet Minister, would pick the new Election Commissioners and Chief Election Commissioners.

The bill faced a lot of criticism from the leaders of the opposition as the ruling government added a union minister in place of the Chief Justice of India to the panel, which will select the new CEC.

According to the reports, 2 new election commissioners are likely to be appointed before March 15.