Election Commissioner Arun Goyal's resignation a few weeks before the general elections has been questioned by opposition parties

The preparations for the general elections are in full swing in the country, it is likely that the date will be announced after a few weeks. In the midst of these preparations, surprisingly, a few weeks before the Lok Sabha elections, Election Commissioner Arun Goyal has resigned. But moreover, his resignation has been accepted by the President of the Republic.

His resignation comes at a time when the Election Commission (EC) is touring the country to review the election preparations and the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls is expected to be announced in a few days.

There was already one vacancy in Election Commission of India and now all these responsibilities will be left only with Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar.

Several concerns are being expressed by the leaders of the opposition and other parties on the sudden resignation of the Election Commission. Questions are being raised that whether there was pressure on the Election Commissioner Arun Goyal from the ruling party, what could this pressure be? Was there any pressure to set a date and prepare an election schedule in opposition-ruled states? Resigning suddenly just before elections raises several questions.

Trinamool Congress MP Sakit Gokhale said it is very worrying. "In a sudden move, Election Commissioner Arun Goyal has resigned. The second election commission post is vacant. Now the Election Commission has only one Chief Election Commissioner left. The Modi government has introduced a new law under which Election Commissioners will now be appointed by a majority vote of PM Modi and 1 minister chosen by him. So, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Modi will now appoint 2 out of 3 Election Commissioners after today's resignation.

According to Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, Goyal's resignation just before the Lok Sabha elections is extremely worrying.

The Congress leader said: "It is a matter of deep concern for the health of the world's largest democracy that Election Commissioner Arun Goyal has resigned so close to the Lok Sabha elections. How is a constitutional body like ECI functioning?" And there is absolutely no transparency in the way the government pressures them.

He added: "During the 2019 elections, Ashok Lavasa dissented against the PM for a clean chit for violating the Model Code of Conduct. He later faced constant questioning. This behavior shows that The government is bent on destroying democratic traditions. This must be explained, and the ECI must be completely neutral at all times.