Amid big row over the resignation of Arun Goel as Election Commissioner and which also provided fodder to the anti-Narendra Modi camp, top sources in the poll panel say Goel and CEC Rajiv Kumar have traveled together for an international conference and also to West Bengal and Bihar.
Sources say there could be 'different view points' between the two on certain matters such as deployment of central forces in West Bengal and also over State Bank of India (SBI) delay in submitting its response on Electoral Bond dispute.
But these were not so serious to call for Goel's resignation.
Of course, the EC source maintains that Goel had to skip the briefing on West Bengal poll preparedness due to his ill health.
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.
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.
Why Arun Goel resigned suddenly as Election Commissioner is a million dollar (rupee) question. The Centre should clarify.
ReplyDelete..... I also feel, either Goel or the Centre should speak on the issue. It's very unusual for an EC to quit on eve of declaration of Lok Sabha poll schedule -- R. Vijay, Maharashtra
I do not agree....Why should union government clarify? Goel must speak clearly and state the reasons for his hasty retreat at this juncture when EC would be busy with conducting general elections - K Patil, Pune
ReplyDeleteI suspect Goel resigned owing to some political reasons, and not due to his cold war with the incumbent CEC. However, you know this better as being closely connected. *Incidentally, I knew Arun Goel during his stint in Andaman as one of the junior Secretaries in the State in the mid nineties...: Ex-Andaman Govt official/AP
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