New Delhi (20/11/2022): Nov 20, 2022: On Saturday, former bureaucrat Arun Goel was appointed as Election Commissioner. The government announced Goel’s appointment via a press statement.
A Punjab cadre officer of the 1985 batch, Goel will now be joining Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey in the poll panel.
Arun Goel will be filling in the third post in the three-member poll panel after it was vacant for nearly six months. The statement released by the Ministry of law & Justice it is said, “The President is pleased to appoint Shri Arun Goel, IAS (retd) (PB: 1985) as the Election Commissioner in the Election Commission with effect from the date he assumes the office.”
Former Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra had retired in May following which Rajiv Kumar took charge. Since then the poll panel remained a two-member body and presided over several key issues including the demands for disqualification of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
Once Goel joins his new role, he will be in line to be the next chief election commissioner after the incumbent quits office in February 2025. Goel will quit office in December 2027 following the attainment of 65 years of age.