Chennai (Tamil Nadu): Opposition Congress and Trinamool Congress turned the heat on the Narendra Modi led BJP government at the Centre over the sudden resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Congress General Secretary, KC Venugopal, Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale both expressed their dismay over the matter, saying that the entire nation is anxious about the upcoming elections.
He also said that the government doesn't want a "free and fair election." Earlier, Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigned from his post on Saturday, with his resignation being accepted by the President.
"This is quite shocking; just before the declaration of elections, the Election Commissioner has resigned. Now, only one Election Commissioner is there... What is happening in this Election Commission? The entire country is anxious. The government of India doesn't want a free and fair election," said Venugopal.
"Earlier, they removed the Chief Justice of India from the selection body of the Election Commission and Election Commissioner. In place of CJI, they included a cabinet minister... now it has become a government affair... transparency has been lost in this process," he added.
Arun Goel assumed charge as Election Commissioner (EC) of India on November 21, 2022. He has also worked as Secretary, Ministry of Culture; Vice-Chairman, Delhi Development Authority; Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor, Ministry of Labour and Employment; and Joint Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale said it was concerning that two appointments are to be made to the panel ahead of the general elections.
In a post on X after Goel's resignation was announced, Gokhale said, "In a sudden move, Election Commissioner Arun Goel has abruptly resigned. The post of the other EC is vacant." "That leaves the Election Commission now with just one Chief Election Commissioner," he said. "Modi Govt has introduced a new law where Election Commissioners will now be appointed with a majority vote of PM Modi & one Minister chosen by him," he said, referring to The Chief Election Commissioner And Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service And Term of Office) Act.
The Act, passed by Parliament in December 2023, has provisions to set up a search committee chaired by the law minister and two other persons not below the rank of secretary, to prepare a panel of five persons for consideration of the selection committee for appointment as CEC or ECs.
The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year. Earlier in the day, Venugopal raised concerns over Election Commissioner Goel's resignation, stating, " It is deeply concerning for the health of the world's largest democracy that Election Commissioner Arun Goel has resigned on the cusp of the Lok Sabha elections. There is absolutely no transparency in how a constitutional institution like the ECI has been functioning and the manner in which the government pressurises them," the Congress leader said in a post on 'X'.
Attacking the BJP-led government, KC Venugopal said, "During the 2019 elections, Ashok Lavasa had dissented against a clean chit to the PM for violating the Model Code of Conduct. Later, he faced relentless inquiries.
Saket said, "Ergo, before 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Modi will now appoint two out of the three Election Commissioners after today's resignation. This is very very concerning."
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