Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is gearing up to fill two vacant positions of election commissioners by March 15, following the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey and the unexpected departure of Arun Goel.Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Appointment processAccording to reports from PTI, a search committee chaired by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Megwal, alongside cabinet secretaries from the home department and department of personnel and training, will compile two separate panels of five candidates each for the vacant posts.Subsequently, a selection committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with a Union minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, will finalize the appointment of two individuals as election commissioners. The official appointment will be made by the President.The selection committee is expected to convene on either March 13 or 14, with the meeting date dependent on the availability of its members.Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Recent legislative changesRecent legislative amendments have altered the process of appointing the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs). Previously, the Chief Justice of India was also involved in the selection process.Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Current status of the Chief ECIFollowing Arun Goels resignation, only Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar remains in the three-member poll panel, a situation that comes as the Lok Sabha elections draw closer. Anup Chandra Pandey retired on February 14 upon reaching the age of 65.As the Election Commission of India undergoes changes in its leadership, the appointment of two new election commissioners is a crucial step in maintaining efficiency of Indias electoral processes. With the selection process underway, stakeholders anticipate the nomination of capable individuals to uphold the democratic principles of the nations electoral framework.
