It's possible Arun Goel quit as Election Commissioner over differences with CEC Rajiv Kumar ::::: He is otherwise 'close to RSS and renovated Jallianwala Bagh"

Arun Goel's resignation provoked angry and surprising reactions from a spectrum of Opposition leaders.

But it is critical element in the episode that he cut short his visit to West Bengal and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee has lauded her for not succumbing to pressure. Either things are too serious ....or else even Mamata could be just making a statement with getting any special inputs.

Goel served in the RSS-favourite Culture ministry as additional secretary and reportedly after he became the Culture Secretary in August 2018, his affinity with RSS top leaders grew closer. It was during this time that the plan to renovate Jallianwala Bagh was taken up.

Of course, Goel is a retired IAS officer from Punjab Cadre and he knew some basic issues related to India's cultural history vis-a-vis Jallianwalla Bagh.   

On Sunday, a day after Goel tendered his resignation and it was accepted by President, the politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) -- CPI-M has said it is alarmed by the 'sudden development' within the poll panel.

The government sources said two new commissioners will be appointed by March 15. But it is also to be noted that the EC may announce election poll schedule this week. Earlier, it was indicated that poll schedules could be announced anytime after March 12 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi still has a few official programmes in different parts of the country. 

Goel resigned as Election Commissioner on Saturday. His tenure was till December 5, 2027, and he would have become Chief Election Commissioner after incumbent Rajiv Kumar retired in February next year.

Sources say Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar and Goel were “not the best of friends”. But senior bureaucrats always have these petty differences and hence it is too early to say the trigger was his differences with the CEC. 

It is understood that in 2011, Goel was handpicked by the Congress-led UPA for handling the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, the Manmohan Singh government’s hyped flagship urban renewal scheme.

But in June 2012, he was moved out as he fell out with the then Union urban development minister Kamal Nath. It is also stated that when BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu was the Urban Development Minister, he was 'rewarded' and made much talked about vice-chairman, Delhi Development Authority (DDA). 

But the stint was short lived and soon he was moved to the Labour ministry. After his retirement, he was made Election Commissioner by the Modi government.