Last Updated: March 16, 2024, 19:28 IST
Then election commissioner Arun Goel (right) with CEC Rajiv Kumar. (File image/PTI)
Arun Goel stepped down as election commissioner on March 9, exactly a week before dates for the Lok Sabha polls were announced
A week after election commissioner Arun Goel stepped down, suspense continues over the reasons for his “sudden” decision. Asked about it during Saturday’s press briefing on the countrywide poll schedule, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said “personal decisions must be respected”.
“Arun was a very distinguished member of our team… thoroughly enjoyed working with him….but in every institution people should be given personal space…one should respect personal decisions,” the CEC said.
Arun Goel stepped down as election commissioner on March 9, exactly a week before dates for the Lok Sabha polls were announced.
Opposition parties had alleged that Goel resigned because of “differences” with CEC Kumar. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) had alleged that he was being pressurised about West Bengal polls. Goel put in his papers soon after a visit to Bengal with CEC Kumar. He didn’t attend the media briefing in Kolkata and Kumar had then said that “health reasons had led to Goel’s absence.” The same reason was also cited by the law ministry but TMC continued to ask if the central government had pressurised Goel in the context of West Bengal polls, which led to his sudden departure.
The Election Commission announced a seven-phase polling for West Bengal on Saturday, in a repeat of the 2019 exercise.
To a pointed question on whether there were any differences within the ECI, which led to Goel’s resignation, Rajiv Kumar said, “Dissent within commission is encouraged.”
Goel joined the ECI team in November 2022 amid controversies. On November 18, 2022, the 1985-batch IAS officer was given Voluntary Retirement from Service. A day later, the President appointed him election commissioner.
On November 21, 2022, he took charge of the office, and two days later, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to produce the original files related to his selection.
In August 2023, the Supreme Court refused to interfere with the appointment of Goel, saying that a Constitution bench had already examined the process.