Indian justice ministry announced that the second-in-command of the Election Commission of India, Arun Goel, had resigned on Saturday, just days before the general elections were expected to be declared.
Goel’s resignation left the ECI with only one of its three top officials to oversee the massive electoral process, which will involve nearly a billion voters in April-May.
The ministry did not give any reason for Goel’s departure, but NDTV reported that he had quit for “personal reasons”, quoting sources.
The ECI has been operating with one vacancy since last year, when another official retired.
The election dates, which will be staggered over several phases, are likely to be announced next week, according to local media.
The main opposition Congress party expressed its worry over Goel’s resignation.
“It is deeply concerning for the health of the world’s largest democracy that Election Commissioner Mr Arun Goel has resigned on the cusp of the Lok Sabha (parliamentary) elections,” K.C. Venugopal, the party’s general secretary, said in a social media post.
“There is absolutely no transparency in how a constitutional institution like the ECI has been functioning and the manner in which the government pressurises them.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party are widely expected to win a third term in the general election.
A Pew survey last year found Modi was viewed favourably by percent of Indians.
A YouGov poll in February showed the BJP had a clear lead over the opposition parties in every age and gender group among urban voters.
