Arun Goel resigns as Election Commissioner, 'personal reasons' attributed :::: He visited West Bengal lately .... Oppn says ‘Deeply concerning’

 ‘Deeply concerning’: Oppn reacts to election commissioner Arun Goel's surprise resignation ahead of LS polls 

He was the second-highest official in the Election Commission. He merely cited "personal reasons". Sources said, the government tried to persuade him not to resign but he insisted.

Of course, the process of appointing two election commissioners (vacant slot) will start soon.

'news maker' of Pre-poll season !! 

Following the retirement of Anup Pandey in February 2024 and Goel's resignation, the three-member Election Commission panel has now only Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

The 'resignation' has been accepted by President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday, March 8. This comes perhaps less than a week before the poll panel announces the polls schedule for general elections 2024.  With Goel's resignation, the three-member Election Commission is now headed only by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Rajiv Kumar and there is no election commissioner as of now.

“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,” Congress leader K C Venugopal wrote on X. 

“There is absolutely no transparency in how a constitutional institution like the ECI has been functioning and the manner in which the government pressurises them.”   

Venugopal said that during 2019 elections, Ashok Lavasa (former election commissioner) had dissented against a clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for violating the Model Code of Conduct. “Later, he (Lavasa) faced relentless inquiries. This attitude shows the regime is hellbent on destroying democratic traditions, ” he said.

However, it may be stated that Lavasa later served as the Vice President of Asian Development Bank (ADB) from August 2020 to August 2023.

The Congress leader added: “This (Goel's resignation) must be explained, and the ECI must be completely non-partisan at all times.”

Trinamool MP Saket Gokhale described Goel's resignation as “very very concerning”

"Modi Govt has introduced a new law where Election Commissioners will now be appointed with a majority vote of PM Modi & 1 Minister chosen by him. Ergo, before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Modi will now appoint 2 out of the 3 Election Commissioners after today’s resignation. 

This is VERY VERY concerning," Saket posted on X.

A 1985 batch IAS officer from Punjab cadre, Arun Goel previously served as secretary in the ministry of heavy industry.

In this role, he "catalyzed the E-vehicle movement in India to a Tipping Point", the Elections Commission's website says.

Goel took over the charge of the election commissioner on November 21, 2022. A day prior to that, he took voluntary retirement.

He also served as vice-chairman, Delhi Development Authority; Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor, Ministry of Labour and Employment; Joint Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

Goel was in line to become the next chief election commissioner after Rajiv Kumar’s tenure ends in February 2025. According to the law, the election commissioner or CEC post can be held for up to six years or till attaining the age of 65.

The EC bench led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioner Arun Goel, visited West Bengal recently and met representatives from political parties and top civil and police officials in connection with poll preparedness.