NEW DELHI: With the announcement of Lok Sabha elections imminent, the central government is hastily addressing the crisis caused by the surprise resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goyal. A three-member selection committee, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, may convene on the 13th or 14th to urgently fill two vacancies in view of the elections. The process is expected to be completed so that the new commissioners can be appointed by the President on the 15th.

Currently, the three-member Election Commission only has Chief Commissioner Rajeev Kumar, as Commissioner Anoop Chandra Pandey retired on February 14.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has been replaced by a Union Minister in the three-member committee for the appointment of Election Commissioners, following an amendment of the Act.

This presents an opportunity for the central government to appoint candidates of its choosing. The Selection Committee comprises the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, or the leader of the largest party in the Opposition, and a Union Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. The positions of the Prime Minister and the Union Minister hold sway.

The term of the Lok Sabha extends until June 16, and elections were expected to be announced soon. While there is no impediment to announcing the election with only the Chief Commissioner, the Center is striving to fill the vacancies of the two commissioners to ensure smooth proceedings.

The appointment process involves the following steps:

1. The Union Minister of the Committee must be appointed.

2. Panels of five members each should be prepared for both vacancies.

3. The panels are to be assembled by a three-member search committee led by the Union Law Minister.

4. Two individuals should be selected from each panel by the committee chaired by the Prime Minister.

5. The President should approve these selected names and issue the appointment order.

Regarding the difference with Rajeev Kumar, it is reported that Chief Commissioner Rajeev Kumar and Arun Goyal had visited Kolkata to assess preparations in West Bengal. Goyal returned to Delhi prematurely, and he did not attend a meeting between the Election Commission and the central government on Friday. On the 12th, Goyal was scheduled to assess preparations in Kashmir.

These developments coincide with the Supreme Court's consideration of the State Bank's request to extend the time limit for submitting information on electoral bonds to the Election Commission, as well as a writ petition against the State Bank.