India’s Election Commissioner, Arun Goel, has submitted his resignation just days before the anticipated announcement of the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. President Droupadi Murmu officially accepted Goel’s resignation, effective immediately, according to a law ministry notification.
While Goel attributed his resignation to “personal reasons,” there are reports of differences between him and Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. Despite government efforts to dissuade him from stepping down, Goel chose to resign.
The Election Commission of India, which consists of three members, now has a vacant position, leaving only Rajiv Kumar on the poll panel. The timing of Goel’s resignation adds a layer of complexity as India prepares for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The reasons behind the resignation and its potential impact on the election commission’s functioning will likely be subjects of further scrutiny and discussion.
