Arun Goel Resigns: What's Next For EC As Election Commissioner Quits Ahead Of LS Polls | 5 Points

Election Commission:  Questions loom large on the next step of the government after the unexpected resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel on Saturday. The poll body which was already working with one less executive at the helm, is now faced with one more just weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Now, after the resignation of Arun Goel, Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar remained as the sole functionary in the constitutional body.

What happens now? Understand in 5 key points-

1. The government is reportedly looking to fill both the vacancies in the EC as soon as possible given the daunting task of the Lok Sabha election, the biggest poll anywhere in the world. This year's Lok Sabha polls have a total of 97 crore registered voters in the country.

2. On his untimely resignation, it has been learnt that there were some differences between the two election commissioners on various issues pertaining to the LS polls, NDTV reported. However, these might be mere speculations and only Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar can explain the full picture. Goel cited personal reasons while resigning, said senior officials.

3. Goel, a 61-year-old IAS officer of the 1985 batch was at least 4 years away from completing his tenure in 2027. He was set to step into the role of Chief Election Commissioner following the retirement of Rajiv Kumar next year. A Punjab cadre officer, Goel had assumed his responsibilities at the Election Commission in November 2022.

4. Incidentally, Article 324 of the Constitution allows the Election Commission to have just one member. Although the provision states that the Commission can consist of the Chief Election Commissioner alone, since 1993 the body always had at least 2 commissioners on the job.

5. Last year, the government passed a law that removed the Chief Justice of India from the procedure of appointing the nation's top election officials. As per the new legislation, the President is tasked with appointing the top election officers based on recommendations from a panel consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.

Prior to this, a search committee, comprising the law minister and two secretaries, will be responsible for shortlisting five candidates. The final selection will be made by the committee headed by the Prime Minister.