Election Commissioner Arun Goel Quits. What Occurs Now

Election Commissioner Arun Goel with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar (File Phot)

The three-member Election Fee, in the meanwhile, has only one energetic member: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. Motive: the shock resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel on Saturday coupled with one other emptiness (retirement of Anup Pandey in February).

The resignation, which has been accepted by the President, comes weeks earlier than the Lok Sabha elections.

The Lok Sabha polls are to be held in April-Might. The dates have been anticipated to be introduced someday subsequent week, sources had instructed NDTV.

It isn’t clear what was the provocation behind Mr Goel’s shock resignation. Mr Goel, 61, had a tenure till 2027 and was in line to switch Rajiv Kumar because the Chief Election Commissioner after the latter’s retirement subsequent yr.

Mr Goel, a 1985-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre, had joined the Election Fee in November 2022.

Sources have indicated there have been variations on varied points and it could be greatest for the Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar to clarify. Prime officers stated Mr Goel cited private causes whereas resigning.

“The federal government will begin the method of appointing different election commissioners,” stated an official.

Late final yr, the Centre enacted a legislation that excluded the Chief Justice of India from the method to nominate the nation’s high election officers. The highest ballot officers are actually to be appointed by the President on the advice of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, Chief of Opposition in Lok Sabha and a Union Cupboard Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.

Earlier than {that a} search committee, consisting of the legislation minister and two secretaries must quick listing 5 names for the choice committee headed by the Prime Minister to selected from.

The highest ballot physique was set to go to Jammu and Kashmir from Monday to Wednesday to evaluate when polls might be held within the Union Territory, sources had instructed NDTV. Sources added that the Lok Sabha ballot dates have been to be introduced proper after the completion of J&Okay go to.