‘Election Commission Or Election Omission?’: Congress Chief Kharge On Arun Goel’s Resignation

The Congress party expressed deep apprehension following the resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel highlighting the significant reduction in the ECI's strength ahead of Lok Sabha election 2024.

File Photo of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge

Source : PTI

The Congress expressed deep apprehension following the resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel with party president Mallikarjun Kharge taking to social media platform X to voice his concerns, questioning the sudden departure of Goel just days before the expected announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Kharge highlighted the significant reduction in the Election Commission's strength, noting that India now has only one Election Commissioner amidst the impending electoral process. 

He remarked, "As I have said earlier, if we do NOT stop the systematic decimation of our independent institutions, our DEMOCRACY shall be usurped by DICTATORSHIP ! ECI will now be among the last Constitutional institutions to fall." 

"Since the new process of selecting the Election Commissioners have now effectively given all the power to the ruling party and the PM, why has the new Election Commissioner not appointed even after 23 of the completion of latter's tenure? Modi Govt must answer these questions and come out with a reasonable explanation," he added.

Election Commission or Election OMISSION?

India now has only ONE Election Commissioner, even as Lok Sabha elections are to be announced in few days. Why?

As I have said earlier, if we do NOT stop the systematic decimation of our independent institutions, our DEMOCRACY shall…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) March 9, 2024

Congress General Secretary Organisation K C Venugopal echoed these sentiments, expressing deep concern over the lack of transparency in the functioning of the Election Commission. He highlighted instances of government pressure on the commission, citing the case of Ashok Lavasa's dissent during the 2019 elections and subsequent inquiries against him.

It is deeply concerning for the health of the world’s largest democracy that Election Commissioner Mr. Arun Goel has resigned on the cusp of the Lok Sabha elections.

There is absolutely no transparency in how a constitutional institution like the ECI has been functioning and the…

— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) March 9, 2024

TMC MP Saket Gokhale also expressed apprehension saying, "Ergo, before 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Modi will now appoint 2 out of the 3 Election Commissioners after today’s resignation. This is VERY VERY concerning."

In a sudden move, Election Commissioner Arun Goel has abruptly resigned.

The post of the other EC is vacant.

That leaves the Election Commission now with just 1 Chief Election Commissioner.

Modi Govt has introduced a new law where Election Commissioners will now be… pic.twitter.com/bCcPRgDHPr

— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) March 9, 2024

Arun Goel Resigns As Election Commissioner

Arun Goel, a retired bureaucrat and former 1985-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre, had joined the Election Commission in November 2022. His resignation, accepted by President Droupadi Murmu with effect from Saturday, came as a surprise to many. With Goel's departure and the earlier retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey, the Election Commission now comprises only one member: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

The sudden resignation of Goel has raised questions about the functioning and independence of the Election Commission, particularly in the run-up to the crucial Lok Sabha elections.