The Union government has reportedly set a date of March 14 for convening a high-powered committee tasked with selecting new election commissioners. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the meeting, which aims to finalize appointments for the two vacant positions resulting from recent retirements and resignations. With the Election Commission of India now operating with only one Chief Election Commissioner following the departure of Arun Goel and Anup Chandra Pandey, this move is seen as crucial for restoring the commission’s full strength.
Sources revealed that the Law Ministry rescheduled the meeting from March 15 to March 14, indicating the urgency in addressing the vacancies at the Election Commission. The committee, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, comprises a Union minister and the Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, among others. Upon the committee’s recommendations, the President of India will appoint the new election commissioners. It was noted that while the initial notice for selecting one election commissioner was issued on Saturday, Goel’s resignation was announced later that evening, prompting the revision of the notice for the selection of two election commissioners on Monday.
Currently, CEC Rajiv Kumar remains the sole member leading the poll body, emphasizing the need for prompt appointments to ensure the commission’s effective functioning. This development follows the resignation of Ashok Lavasa, another former EC, in August 2020, citing disagreements with certain decisions.
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