"Personal Reasons": Poll Panel Chief On Arun Goel's Shock Resignation

Mr Goel was appointed in November 2022; this was a day after he quit the Indian Administrative Service, prompting the Supreme Court to ask, "What is the tearing hurry?"

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday steered clear of a question on last week's shock resignation of Arun Goel as an Election Commissioner - days before the poll panel was to announce Lok Sabha election dates - telling NDTV "... he had personal reasons". 

He also rejected talk of an acrimonious departure, calling his former colleague "a very distinguished member of the team" and someone with whom he "enjoyed working".

"Arun Goel was a very distinguished member of the team and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him. But, in every institution, everyone must be given personal space, and that should not be touched. He had his reasons, and you should ask him about it," Mr Kumar said.