'Resigned To Contest Polls On BJP Ticket?': Congress Lists 3 Possible Reasons As EC Arun Goel Quits

Election Commissioner Arun Goel, a retired 1985-batch IAS officer, submitted his resignation ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. The specific reasons for his resignation remain undisclosed.

Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh on Sunday commented on the recent resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel, expressing concerns and suggesting three possible reasons behind the decision.

"We have repeatedly sought the Election Commission's attention to our concerns regarding the EVMs, as they are a potential tool for manipulating votes. However, our requests have not been addressed. The Election Commission is a constitutional institution that should ensure fairness," Ramesh told ANI.

"Arun Goel resigned recently, prompting three considerations. First, are there differences between him and the Chief Election Commissioner? Second, could personal reasons be a factor? Third, is this resignation a prelude to his contesting elections on a BJP ticket? The coming days may provide clarity," Ramesh added.

It is to be noted that Abhijit Gangopadhyay resigned as Calcutta HC judge, and formally joined the BJP on Thursday. 

Election Commissioner Arun Goel, a retired 1985-batch IAS officer from the Punjab cadre, submitted his resignation ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. The specific reasons for his resignation remain undisclosed. President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation, according to a notification from the Law Ministry.

With Goel's departure and Anup Chandra Pandey's earlier retirement, the Election Commission now operates with only one member, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. The appointment process for new commissioners involves a search committee shortlisting names and a selection committee, headed by the Prime Minister, finalising the choice.

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

Notably, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said in an X post, "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".

Kharge questioned the delayed appointment of a new Election Commissioner and raised issues about the selection process favoring the ruling party. 

READ | Arun Goel Resigns: Know How Election Commissioners Are Appointed