Two new election commissioners are expected to be appointed by March 15, addressing the vacancies left by Anup Chandra Pandey’s retirement and Arun Goel’s unexpected resignation. PM Modi is scheduled to chair a crucial meeting on March 15 to finalize the appointments. This meeting is critical as it comes just before the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule.
Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Indian political landscape is set to witness the appointment of two new Election Commissioners. The vacancies arose following the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey and the unexpected resignation of Arun Goel, leaving Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar as the sole member of the commission.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to chair a crucial meeting on March 15 to finalize the appointments. This meeting is critical as it comes just before the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule. The resignation of Arun Goel, in particular, has drawn attention as it occurred just days before the expected declaration of the election timetable. President Droupadi Murmu has already accepted Goel’s resignation, with the Law Ministry officially announcing the departure.
The process to fill these vacancies involves a search committee led by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, which includes the Home Secretary and the Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). This committee is tasked with preparing two separate lists, each containing five names for the two available positions.
Subsequently, a selection committee, presided over by Prime Minister Modi and including a Union minister and the Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, will decide on the two individuals to be appointed as Election Commissioners. The final appointment will be made by the President, based on the committee’s recommendations.
According to Clause 2 of Article 324 of the Constitution, the Election Commission is to include the Chief Election Commissioner along with a variable number of other Election Commissioners, as determined by the President as needed.
In response to inquiries about the cause of Goel’s departure, insiders suggested that he may have stepped down for personal reasons.
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The selection process is under significant scrutiny, especially considering the recent changes in the law regarding the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs). Previously, these officials were appointed by the President based on the government’s recommendation, with the senior-most typically ascending to the role of CEC.
This upcoming meeting and the subsequent appointments are of paramount importance, as the Election Commission plays a crucial role in ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections in the world’s largest democracy. The new appointees will have the critical task of overseeing the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a monumental event in Indian politics.
The political community and the public alike await the outcomes of the March 15 meeting, anticipating how these new appointments will shape the future of electoral processes in India.
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