The Electoral Commission of India, comprising a triumvirate, formerly possessed an unoccupied position, and presently, solely Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar persists on the electoral tribunal.
Election Commissioner
New Delhi: Electoral Commissioner Arun Goel tendered his resignation on Saturday, mere days before the imminent announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha election schedule. President Droupadi Murmu formally acknowledged Mr. Goel’s resignation, effective immediately, as per a notification from the law ministry.
Insiders informed NDTV that Mr. Goel cited “personal reasons” for his resignation, notwithstanding governmental attempts to dissuade him from stepping down. Speculation regarding health issues was promptly dismissed, with senior officials asserting Mr. Goel’s excellent health. Electoral Commission sources revealed disparities in documents between Mr. Goel and Chief Electoral Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.
The Election Commission of India, comprising three members, previously had a vacant position, leaving only Mr. Kumar on the electoral board. A retired bureaucrat, Mr. Goel, a 1985-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre, joined the Election Commission in November 2022.
According to sources, the Lok Sabha election dates are anticipated to be disclosed next week. However, Mr. Goel’s unforeseen departure has cast uncertainty on the previously anticipated timeline.
What Follows:
The selection procedure for a new CEC involves a search committee, chaired by the law minister and including two union secretaries, shortlisting five candidates. Subsequently, a selection committee led by the Prime Minister, and including a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, or the leader of the single-largest opposition party, selects the final candidate. The President then officially appoints the chosen CEC or EC.
A notable precursor to Mr. Goel’s resignation was the enactment of a new law late last year, altering the process of appointing the country’s top election officers. Under the revised procedure, the Chief Justice of India was excluded from the selection process.
Opinions Expressed:
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the ramifications of Mr. Goel’s sudden departure on social media. He pondered whether the current state of affairs justified renaming the Election Commissioner to “Election OMISSION”.
“As I have said earlier if we do not stop the systematic decimation of our independent institutions, our democracy shall be usurped by dictatorship!” he added.
Congress general secretary organization KC Venugopal echoed Mr. Kharge’s concerns.
“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,” he said.
Mr. Venugopal expressed concern about governmental influence on constitutional bodies, citing the example of Ashok Lavasa’s dissent during the 2019 elections and subsequent inquiries. Mr. Lavasa had resigned citing dissent on various model code violation decisions during the last Lok Sabha polls.
Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale expressed apprehension that two appointments are now required for the poll panel ahead of the general elections.
“In a sudden move, Election Commissioner Arun Goel has abruptly resigned. The post of the other EC is vacant. That leaves the Election Commissioner now with just one Chief Election Commissioner,” he posted.
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