Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigned from his post on March 9 with immediate effect. Goel's tenure was supposed to end in 2027, but his sudden departure has come as a shock to many as political parties who are bracing up for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
"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 Arun Goel, Election Commissioner with effect from the 9th March, 2024," a notification from the Ministry of Law and Justice read.
With the exit of Goel, the three-member election panel is now down to one member Rajiv Kumar.
Goel, a 1985-batch IAS officer had taken voluntary retirement on November 18, 2022, and was appointed Election Commissioner a day later. His appointment had been challenged in the Supreme Court, which had asked the government what the "tearing hurry" was.