Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigned just ahead of the Lok Sabha election 2024 and President Droupadi Murmu accepted his resignation on Saturday.

“In pursuance of clause (1) of Section 11 of The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, the President is pleased to accept the resignation tendered by Shri Arun Goel, Election Commissioner with effect from the 09th March, 2024,” the gazette notification issued on Saturday read.

Goel took over the charge of the election commissioner on November 21, 2022.

The Election Commission is now headed only by the Chief Election Commissioner (Rajiv Kumar) and no election commissioners.

Goel’s resignation came amid the peak of Lok Sabha election preparation by the Election Commission.

Apart from the Lok Sabha election, the Commission will also have to conduct the state elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh.