In a significant development just days before the anticipated announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule, Arun Goel, a member of the Election Commission, has tendered his resignation. President Droupadi Murmu accepted Goel’s resignation, effective March 9, leaving the Election Commission with only one remaining member, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. This resignation follows the retirement of Election Commission member Anup Chandra in February, further reducing the Commission’s strength.
Goel, a retired bureaucrat and a distinguished 1985-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre, commenced his tenure at the Election Commission on November 21, 2022. His unexpected departure arrives amidst critical preparations for the upcoming polls, with the Commission actively assessing States and Union Territories for their readiness. The Commission had scheduled a visit to Jammu and Kashmir from March 11 to March 13 as part of its pre-election evaluation.
Hailing from Patiala, Punjab, Arun Goel brings a wealth of experience to his roles, having previously served as Secretary of the Ministry of Heavy Industry during his extensive 37-year career. He holds a postgraduate degree in development economics from Churchill College, University of Cambridge, England, and has undergone training at the prestigious John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA.
Throughout his distinguished career, Goel has held several pivotal positions including Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Vice-Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority, Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and Joint Secretary of the Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance.
