"Did he resign to contest polls on BJP ticket?": Jairam Ramesh questions resignation of top EC official

New Delhi [India], March 10 : Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh on Sunday questioned the resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel, asking if he stepped down to contest elections on a BJP ticket.
Earlier, on Saturday, Goel resigned from the post of Election Commissioner ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
"The Election Commission should be a fair body, it is a constitutional institution. Arun Goel resigned yesterday. I could thunk of four possible reasons for this. First, there could have been some differences between the Chief Election Commissioner and him. Secondly, could the Modi government, which drives the panel, have fallen out with him? Third, he could have resigned for personal reasons and lastly, he could be contesting the elections on a BJP ticket. There will be more clarity in the next few days," Jairam Ramesh told ANI.
In a post on X, he said that the resignation of Arun Goel as Election Commissioner last evening raises three questions.
"Did he actually resign over differences with the Chief Election Commissioner or with the Modi Govt, which does the front-seat driving for all supposedly independent institutions? 2. Or did he resign for personal reasons? 3. Or did he, like the Calcutta High Court Judge a few days back, resign to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls on a BJP ticket?" Jairam Ramesh posted on X.
He further said that each passing day in Modi's India deals an added blow to democracy and democratic institutions.
"The Election Commission has for 8 months now refused to meet with INDIA parties on the issue of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) that are so very essential to prevent Electronic Voting Manipulation (EVM)," he added.
Ramesh further said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will go to Swaraj Ashram today.
"Around 10.30 am, Rahul Gandhi will go to Swaraj Ashram. The Ashram was established by Vallabhbhai Patel in 1922 and in 1928, he led Bardoli Satyagraha from here. Following that, he began to be known as Sardar Patel. Bardoli Satyagraha is a milestone," he added.
He further said that on March 13, in Dhule, the Congress president and Rahul Gandhi will announce the guarantees of the Congress party regarding 'Nari Nyay'.
"Bharat Jodo Nyay will resume from there (Ashram). There will be a break tomorrow, March 11. On March 12, an 'Adivasi Sammelan' is being held on Nandurbar, Rahul Gandhi will address it. On March 13, in Dhule, Congress President Kharge and Rahul Gandhi five will announce the guarantees of Congress party regarding 'Nari Nyay'," he added.
The Congress's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra', after the party's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', aims to cover 6,700 km through 15 states, with Lok Sabha polls around the corner.
The Lok Sabha polls are expected to be held in April-May this year.