Why did election commissioner Arun Goel resign out of the blue ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls?

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Arun Goel ahead of the Lok Sabha elections drew criticism about the Modi-led government and has raised questions about the transparency of 'free and fair' elections. His tenure was till December 5, 2027, and he would have become Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) after incumbent Rajiv Kumar retired in February next year. Also Read: Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE Updates According to a report by NDTV citing sources, the announcement of Lok Sabha election dates, expected next week, is uncertain due to Goel's resignation.

According to top officials, Goel resigned citing personal reasons, despite efforts from the government to persuade him otherwise. Speculation about health being a factor in his resignation was dismissed, with officials confirming that Goel is in “perfect health". According to a notification from the law ministry, President Droupadi Murmu has accepted Goel's resignation, effective from Saturday.

The reason for his resignation remains undisclosed. Also Read: Lok Sabha Polls 2024: ‘Transparency is lost, shocking’ Opposition reacts to EC Arun Goel's resignation, slams Centre Goel, a retired bureaucrat, served as a 1985-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre. He joined the Election Commission in November 2022.

With the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey in February and Goel's resignation, the three-member Election Commission is now reduced to only one member, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. Under the new law governing the appointment of Chief Election Commissioners and Election Commissioners, a search committee led by the law minister and comprising two union secretaries will compile a list of five candidates. Last year, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition challenging Goel's appointment as an election