Election Commissioner Arun Goel Resigns before Lok Sabha election

Arun Goel Resigns: Election Commissioner Arun Goel tendered his resignation on March 9, 2024, ahead of the Lok Sabha election. President Droupadi Murmu officially accepted Arun Goel’s resignation with immediate effect, as per a notification of the Law Ministry, . At present, the election commission had 1 only one member, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar after  Goel’s departure and Anup Chandra Pandey ‘s retirement in recent times

The sudden departure leads to multiple speculations and opposition arguments that the 2024 election has made a fuss and is biased toward the ruling party. The appointment process for new Election Commissioners will include two crertria featuring the committees the, overseen by the Law Minister and featuring two Union Secretaries, tasked with shortlisting five candidates for the position. Subsequently, a selection committee, chaired by the Prime Minister and composed of a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM, alongside the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha or the leader of the single-largest opposition party, convenes to choose the final candidate. Upon selection, the chosen candidate is formally appointed by the President, completing the process.

The appointment process for new Election Commissioners includes two cecrcriteriasearch committee, overseen by the Law Minister and featuring two Union Secretaries, tasked with shortlisting five candidates for the position. Subsequently, a selection committee, chaired by the Prime Minister and composed of a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the PM, alongside the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha or the leader of the single-largest opposition party, convenes to choose the final candidate. Upon selection, the chosen candidate is formally appointed by the President, completing the process.