Election commissioner Arun Goel resigns ahead of Lok Sabha polls – Newstodayonline24
Election commissioner Arun Goel tendered his resignation on Saturday, just days before the poll body announces the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. With Goel’s resignation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is now just a single-member body headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Rajiv Kumar. Goel’s departure occurred with three years remaining in his term.
There was already a vacancy for an election commissioner in the three-member body after election commissioner Anup Pandey retired in February this year. “Pursuant to clause (1) of Section 11 of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Duration of Office) Act, 2023, the President is pleased to accept the resignation tendered by Shri Arun Goel, Elections. Commissioned with effect from March 9, 2024,” reads a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice.
Goel had taken charge as Election Commissioner (EC) of India on November 21, 2022. Goel, a 1985-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, Punjab cadre retired as Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, after more than 37 years of service. .
Born on December 7, 1962 in Patiala, he has an M.Sc. (Mathematics) and was awarded the Chancellor’s Medal of Excellence for being first class and breaking records in all examinations of Punjabi University. He has a Postgraduate Degree with Distinction in Development Economics from Churchill College, University of Cambridge, England and has trained at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, United States.
