New Delhi: The retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey and the surprise resignation of Arun Goel have left the Election Commission of India (ECI) with just one member – Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar.
The crucial vacancies of election commissioners (ECs) are likely to be filled up by March 15, PTI reported.
A search committee under Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and comprising the Home Secretary and Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Secretary will prepare two separate panels of five names each for the two posts.
A selection committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprising a Union minister and Leader of Congress party in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, will then choose two candidates for appointment as election commissioners.
President Droupadi Murmu will make the formal appointments.
According to sources, the selection committee could meet on March 13 or 14, while the appointments are likely to be made by March 15.
Goel’s sudden resignation was accepted by President Murmu on Saturday, while Pandey demitted office on February 14 on turning 65.
