Election Commissioner Arun Goel has resigned just ahead of the General Elections 2024 and President Droupadi Murmu accepted his resignation on Saturday. However, the reason behind Goel’s resignation is yet to be known.
The Election Commission is now headed only by the Chief Election Commissioner (Rajiv Kumar) and no election commissioners.
“In pursuance of clause (1) of Section 11 of The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, the President is pleased to accept the resignation tendered by Shri Arun Goel, Election Commissioner with effect from the 09th March 2024,” read the gazette notification issued on Saturday.
Arun Goel, a 1985 batch IAS officer, assumed the position of the election commissioner on November 21, 2022. Before this, he served as the secretary of the Ministry of Heavy Industry, Govt of India. However, he resigned during the peak of Lok Sabha election preparation by the Election Commission.
The dates for the election have not yet been announced, but teams have been visiting states to check the preparedness for the election which is likely to be held in April-May. Recently, the Election Commission conducted a security meeting with the Union home ministry and railways officials to discuss the deployment and movement of security personnel across the country.
In addition to the high-stakes Lok Sabha election, the Commission will also have to conduct state elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh.
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