‘Personal reasons’: Poll panel chairman responds to Aaron Gore’s shock resignation

New Delhi:

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday dodged questions about Arun Gore’s shock resignation as election commissioner last week – days before the poll panel was to announce dates for the Lok Sabha elections – he told New Delhi TV “…He had personal reasons.”

He also rejected talk of an acrimonious departure, saying his former colleague was a “really great member of the team” and “enjoyed working with him.”

“Arun Goel is a very outstanding member of the team and I really enjoy working with him. However, in every institution, everyone has to be given personal space and that should not be touched. He He has his reasons and you should ask him about it,” Mr Kumar said.

“But let me be clear… we have a very good tradition of not suppressing dissent within the four walls of the Electoral Commission. This (the planning and conduct of elections) is a very complex undertaking… Half-heartedness is always more More than one…” he added.

When Goel announced his resignation last week, sources told NDTV that he too cited “personal reasons” and said the government had persuaded him to reconsider.

Read | Why Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigned just weeks before 2024 polls

He also dismissed speculation that he was resigning for health reasons.

Mr. Goel was appointed in November 2022; a day after he resigned from the Indian executive. The Supreme Court asked at the time “What is an emergency?”

He was scheduled to serve until 2027; in fact, Mr Goel was expected to succeed Rajiv Kumar as chief election commissioner when he retires next year.

After Arun Goel resigned, Mr Kumar was the only member of the three-member voting panel until two new officials were inaugurated – former civil servants Janesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu. They succeed Mr Goel and Anup Pandey, whose term expired in February.

Read | The Lok Sabha election will be divided into seven phases starting from April 19, and the results will be announced on June 4

The Election Commission this afternoon announced the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha Assembly elections as well as state polls in Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim and by-elections for 26 assembly constituencies in 13 states.

The referendum will begin on April 19 and the general election will be held in seven phases. The results of all elections will be announced on June 4.