Arun Goel abruptly resigned because the Election Commissioner.
New Delhi:
Election Commissioner Arun Goel’s resignation simply days earlier than the announcement of dates for the Lok Sabha polls has despatched shockwaves inside the political circles. Whereas he said ”private causes” in his resignation letter, sources have instructed NDTV that variations with the Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar may have prompted the exit.
Congress, expressing ”deep concern,” has sounded the alarm on what it perceives as a harmful development of systematic erosion of unbiased establishments, warning that if not halted, democracy might be supplanted by dictatorship. Questions are additionally being raised about whether or not the upcoming elections might be carried out pretty.
In a publish on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge stated, ”Election Fee or Election OMISSION? India now has just one Election Commissioner, at the same time as Lok Sabha elections are to be introduced in just a few days. Why? As I’ve stated earlier, if we don’t cease the systematic decimation of our unbiased establishments, our democracy shall be usurped by dictatorship.”
The ECI will now be among the many final Constitutional establishments to fall, Mr Kharge claimed.
”Because the new course of of choosing the Election Commissioners has now successfully given all the ability to the ruling occasion and the PM, why has the brand new Election Commissioner not appointed even after 23 days of the completion of latter’s tenure? Modi authorities should reply these questions and are available out with an affordable clarification,” the Congress president stated.
Election Fee or Election OMISSION?
India now has solely ONE Election Commissioner, at the same time as Lok Sabha elections are to be introduced in few days. Why?
As I’ve stated earlier, if we do NOT cease the systematic decimation of our unbiased establishments, our DEMOCRACY shall…
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) March 9, 2024
Arun Goel resigned on Saturday, days earlier than the anticipated announcement of the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His tenure was until December 5, 2027, and he would have change into Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) after incumbent Rajiv Kumar retired in February subsequent yr.
The Election Fee of India, consisting of three members, already had a vacant place, and now, solely Mr Kumar stays on the ballot panel.
In accordance with sources, the Lok Sabha election dates are more likely to be introduced subsequent week. Nevertheless, Mr Goel’s sudden departure has solid doubt on the beforehand anticipated timeline.
Congress chief KC Venugopal additionally criticised the dearth of transparency within the functioning of constitutional establishments just like the Election Fee and highlighted the alleged pressures exerted by the federal government.
”That is fairly surprising; simply earlier than the declaration of elections, the Election Commissioner has resigned. Now, just one Election Commissioner is there… What is occurring on this Election Fee? Your complete nation is anxious. The federal government of India would not need a free and honest election,” the Congress basic secretary stated.
Mr Venugopal drew parallels with the 2019 elections, citing the case of Ashok Lavasa, who dissented in opposition to giving a clear chit to the Prime Minister for violating the Mannequin Code of Conduct. He emphasised the necessity for the Election Fee to stay fully non-partisan to protect democratic traditions.
”Mr Ashok Lavasa had dissented in opposition to a clear chit to the PM for violating the Mannequin Code of Conduct. Later, he confronted relentless inquiries. This perspective reveals the regime is hell-bent on destroying democratic traditions,” Mr Venugopal wrote on X.