New Delhi: In an unexpected development, Arun Goyal, one of the Election Commissioners of India, has tendered his resignation mere weeks before the anticipated announcement of the Lok Sabha election dates. The President has accepted his resignation, leaving a notable gap in the Election Commission of India (ECI), which already had a vacancy. With Goyal’s departure, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar is the sole occupant of the commission’s top posts.
Implications for Election Schedule:
The Lok Sabha election dates are expected to be announced shortly, and it is unclear if Goyal’s resignation will affect the schedule. His resignation comes with three years remaining in his tenure, following the retirement of Election Commissioner Anup Pandey in February.
Background of Arun Goyal:
Appointed as Election Commissioner on November 21, 2022, Goyal is a 1985 batch Indian Administrative Service officer from the Punjab cadre. He concluded his service as Secretary of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India, after a distinguished 37-year career.
Career Achievements:
Goyal, born on December 7, 1962, in Patiala, holds an M.Sc. in Mathematics and has been recognized with the Chancellor’s Medal of Excellence from Punjabi University for his academic record. He also holds a postgraduate degree with distinction in Development Economics from Churchill College, University of Cambridge, England, and has undergone training at the John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA.
Current Developments:
The circumstances surrounding Goyal’s resignation remain undisclosed, and it has come as a surprise to colleagues within the ECI. The Central Election Committee meeting that was scheduled for the following day has been postponed. Goyal’s term was set to continue until 2027, and his abrupt resignation has raised questions among the commission’s officers and staff. The ECI is also facing a busy schedule, with a planned tour of Jammu and Kashmir in three days, following a recent tour of West Bengal.
The political and administrative circles are keenly observing the situation to understand the potential impact of this resignation on the upcoming elections and the functioning of the Election Commission.
