Election Commissioner Arun Goel suddenly resigned just weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. His resignation was accepted by the President of India on Saturday, the Law Ministry notified.

Arun Goel’s tenure was till 2027 and he was in line to be the next chief election commissioner after incumbent Rajiv Kumar demits the office in February 2025.

Goel’s appointment in November 2022, days ahead of elections in Gujarat, had also raised eyebrows. The Supreme Court too questioned the “haste” and “tearing hurry” process of his appointment which was completed in 24 hours.

With the resignation of Arun Goel, the Election Commission of India now has only one member when there should be three. Anup Pandey had retired from his post just last month.

Expressing concern, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said, “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 be usurped by DICTATORSHIP !”

ECI will now be among the last Constitutional institutions to fall, Kharge stated.

“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?” he asked.

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said, “The government will now proceed to appoint replacements with a panel comprising the PM, a Union Minister and the Leader of Opposition. A clear 2:1, one sided decision making process. An overbearing executive already known for dismantling democratic process, is unlikely to ensure “free and “fair” elections.”