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New Delhi: Amidst the possibility of announcing the schedule of Lok Sabha elections next week, Election Commissioner Arun Goyal has created a political uproar by suddenly resigning from the post. Election Commissioner Anoop Chandra Pandey retired last month. There is a possibility of delay in the announcement of Lok Sabha election schedule due to the sudden resignation of Arun Goyal. Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar is currently the sole member of the Election Commission. In such a situation, the government will now have to appoint two election commissioners before the announcement of Lok Sabha elections. However, sources say that a three-member committee headed by Prime Minister Modi will fill both the posts of Election Commissioner by March 15.
A few days before the possible announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule by the Election Commission, Election Commissioner Arun Goyal had resigned from the post. President Draupadi Murmu accepted his resignation on Saturday and the Law Ministry issued a notification announcing it officially. With this announcement, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar is now the sole member of the Election Commission as returning officer. Election Commissioner Anupchandra Pandey retired from service on February 14.
Now the search committee headed by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will prepare two separate panels of five names each on March 13-14. The committee includes the Home Secretary and the Secretary of DoPT. A selection committee headed by Prime Minister Modi will select the names of two officers as Election Commissioners from the panel selected by this committee. Apart from PM Modi, a Union Minister and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Choudhary are also included in this selection committee. The name selected by the selection committee will be appointed with the seal of approval of President Draupadi Murmu. Sources say that the meeting of the selection committee members may be held on March 13 or 14 and two new election commissioners may be appointed by March 15.
Why Goyal resigned has not been revealed yet. However, differences remained between Arun Goyal and Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on several issues. According to sources, something serious happened in the Election Commission on March 7 and 8, due to which Arun Goyal resigned from the post of Election Commissioner despite having four years of service left. It is also significant that Arun Goyal's tenure was till December 5, 2027 and he was to become the Chief Election Commissioner after the retirement of Rajiv Kumar in February next year.
According to sources, there were differences between Rajiv Kumar and Arun Goyal on some issues, but minor differences are common at this level. However, records of internal communications and decisions show that Arun Goyal did not dissent on any issue. It is possible that Arun Goyal may have resigned due to personal reasons.
According to sources, Arun Goyal was absent from an important meeting held between the Election Commission and top officials of the Home Ministry and Railways to ensure the deployment and transportation of central forces across India for election duty. CEC Rajeev Kumar from the Election Commission was present alone in this meeting. Arun Goyal is a 1985 batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre.
Just as there has been debate on Arun Goyal's departure, similarly his appointment as Election Commissioner has also been debated. In November 2022, Arun Goyal was appointed Election Commissioner at the speed of a bullet. The Supreme Court also raised questions on the appointment of Goyal and said that the sky had fallen that the government had to complete the election process of the Election Commissioner in a single day. However, this time the government will have to appoint not one but two election commissioners for the emergency.
– Opposition questions on Arun Goyal's resignation
– There was pressure on Election Commissioner Goyal to contest elections: Opposition
New Delhi: The schedule of Lok Sabha elections was likely to be announced next week. After the completion of Prime Minister Modi's tour of 10 to 12 states on March 12, it was believed that the Lok Sabha election schedule would be announced on March 13 or 14. At such a time, Election Commissioner Arun Goyal has created a big uproar by resigning from the post. On the issue of Goyal's resignation, the opposition including Congress has put a barrage of questions on the government. Congress and Samajwadi Party questioned who is putting pressure on a constitutional institution like the Election Commission? Has Arun Goyal resigned due to differences with the Chief Election Commissioner or the government? Like retired Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, Arun Goyal has also resigned to join the BJP and contest the Lok Sabha elections.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the Calcutta High Court judge joined the BJP the day after his resignation and started attacking the Trinamool Congress. Now that the Election Commissioner has resigned, wait a minute, what is he doing? At the same time, SP President Akhilesh Yadav said that this has happened many times in the BJP government. Due to pressure the officers had to step down. The big question is who is putting pressure on the Election Commission, a constitutional and independent body and that too before the Lok Sabha elections.