Before the official announcement of the Lok Sabha elections schedule for 2024, Arun Goel, serving as the Election Commissioner of India, submitted his resignation, which was subsequently approved by the President of India. Arun Goel was slated to succeed as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), with the current CEC, Rajiv Kumar, set to retire in February 2025.
President accepts the resignation tendered by Arun Goel, Election Commissioner with effect from the 9th March 2024: Ministry of Law & Justice pic.twitter.com/88tuyXm4uP
— ANI (@ANI) March 9, 2024
The gazette notification issued by the Law Ministry on Saturday stated, “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.”
Arun Goel, a senior IAS officer from the 1985 batch, had voluntarily retired on November 18, 2022. Following this, he was appointed as the Election Commissioner the next day. His appointment raised questions, leading to scrutiny in the Supreme Court regarding the urgency of the decision.
The specific reason behind Arun Goel’s resignation remains undisclosed. However, his decision coincided with intensified preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections by the Election Commission. Although assessments regarding the readiness of states are ongoing, the official dates for the elections are yet to be announced, with expectations for them to occur in April-May.
On Friday, the Election Commission held a security meeting involving officials from the Union Home Ministry and the railways to discuss the deployment and movement of security personnel across the country.
Besides the crucial Lok Sabha election, the Commission is tasked with overseeing state elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Maharashtra, and Arunachal Pradesh.
