With Lok Sabha elections around the corner, Election Commissioner of India Arun Goel has tendered his resignation. Goel, whose tenure was set to continue till December 2027, stepped down just days ahead of the anticipated announcement of the schedule for the 2024 polls.
The resignation, accepted by President Droupadi Murmu, came into effect immediately on Saturday, as confirmed by a notification from the law ministry. The reasons behind Goel’s sudden departure remain undisclosed.
At the time of Goel’s resignation, the Election Commission was already reduced to two members following the retirement of Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey in February. With Goel’s departure now official, the poll panel is left with just Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar at its helm.
A retired bureaucrat from the 1985-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre, Goel had assumed his position at the Election Commission in November 2022. However, his selection as Election Commissioner stirred controversy due to his prior role as the Union Heavy Industries Secretary. Goel had opted for voluntary retirement from the Indian Administrative Services on November 18, 2022, and just a day later, he assumed his position within the Commission.
(With inputs from agencies)