Election Commissioner Arun Goel Steps Down Ahead Of Lok Sabha Polls
With Goel's departure, concerns arise about the impending Lok Sabha polls being conducted with only two members in the core body of the Election Commission.
Arun Goel, an Election Commissioner, has resigned abruptly, leaving the Election Commission of India with two vacancies just weeks before the Lok Sabha polls. The President accepted Goel's resignation, leaving Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar as the sole remaining member of the three-member panel. Goel cited personal reasons for his resignation, despite government efforts to persuade him otherwise. Speculations regarding his health were dismissed, as officials confirmed Goel's good health. The government will now initiate the process of appointing new election commissioners.
Goel, a former 1985-batch IAS officer, had taken voluntary retirement in November 2022 before being appointed as an Election Commissioner. His swift appointment had raised eyebrows, prompting questions from the Supreme Court about the haste. However, a petition challenging his appointment was dismissed by a two-judge bench, upholding his position.
With Goel's departure, concerns arise about the impending Lok Sabha polls being conducted with only two members in the core body of the Election Commission. Anup Pandey, the other Election Commissioner, had retired last month, leaving a void in the commission's functioning.
Political reactions to Goel's resignation have been mixed, with some expressing concerns about the lack of transparency in the functioning of the Election Commission. The appointment process for election commissioners has been a subject of debate, especially after a Supreme Court ruling last year directing the involvement of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India in the appointment process. However, a recent Bill passed by Parliament replaced the Chief Justice of India with a Union Cabinet minister in the appointment panel, drawing criticism for potentially compromising the commission's autonomy.
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Goel's resignation adds uncertainty to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, with questions raised about the commission's functioning and the appointment process for election commissioners. As the country awaits further developments, the issue of electoral transparency and autonomy remains a significant concern.
