The Election Commission of India is set to undergo a significant change following the recent departure of two former commissioners, Anup Chandra Pandey and Arun Goel.
Pandey retired last month, while Goel surprised many with his resignation on Friday. With only Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar remaining, President Droupadi Murmu is expected to appoint two new election commissioners by March 15.
According to sources, a search committee led by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, along with the Home Secretary and the Department of Personnel and Training Secretary, will compile lists of potential candidates.
These lists will then be reviewed by a selection committee chaired by the Prime Minister, along with a Union minister and the Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. The President will ultimately appoint the new commissioners.
The timing of Goel's resignation, just days before the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls schedule, has raised questions. While his resignation was accepted by President Murmu and announced by the Law Ministry, the reasons behind it remain unclear.
However, sources have dismissed speculation about discord between Goel and Kumar, stating that internal records show no evidence of dissent from Goel.
Goel's absence from a crucial meeting between the EC and top home ministry and railway officials, regarding the deployment of central forces for poll duty, has also drawn attention.
A seasoned bureaucrat, Goel joined the Election Commission in 2022 and was slated to become Chief Election Commissioner after Kumar's retirement next year.
The concept of a multi-member EC, currently consisting of the CEC and two election commissioners, has been in operation since 1993. Decision-making within the commission is based on a majority vote.
