David Powell
Updated on: October 8, 2024 6:19 pm GMT
Arun Goel Appointed India’s Ambassador to Croatia After Resignation from Election Commission
In a noteworthy political move, Arun Goel, the former Election Commissioner (EC) of India, has been appointed as the country’s next ambassador to Croatia. This announcement comes months after Goel’s abrupt resignation from the Election Commission prior to the general elections, marking it as the first political appointment to a diplomatic post in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term.
On Saturday, the Union Ministry of External Affairs confirmed Goel’s appointment, stating, “Shri Arun Goel has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Croatia. He is expected to assume the position shortly.” Although Croatia is not considered politically critical for India, the diplomatic posting in Zagreb is highly sought after due to its strategic location in Europe.
Arun Goel, a 1985 batch officer of the Indian Administrative Services, took office as EC on November 18, 2022, just a day after resigning from his administrative service position. His appointment occurred just before the Supreme Court commenced hearings on a petition questioning the government’s authority to appoint election commissioners. This petition raised concerns about the independence of the Election Commission of India (ECI) from the executive branch.
Despite objections raised in the court, including claims from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) regarding the arbitrariness of Goel’s appointment, the Supreme Court ultimately dismissed the petition while acknowledging procedural irregularities in the appointment processes.
Goel’s exit from the Election Commission was sudden, coming a month prior to the first phase of India’s general elections set for April 19, 2024. This left the ECI with just one member, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, which was a point of contention in political discussions at the time.
The appointment of Arun Goel as India’s envoy to Croatia holds significance as it is only the fifth political appointment at a diplomatic mission since Modi assumed office in 2014. Historical precedents include the appointments of former Mumbai police commissioner Ahmed Javed to Saudi Arabia in December 2015 and former CBI director R.K. Raghavan to Cyprus in 2017.
Goel’s role as ambassador will involve fostering diplomatic relations and enhancing trade ties between India and Croatia, along with engagement in cultural diplomacy. This appointment is seen as a strategic move in expanding India’s presence in Europe.
For more insights on India’s diplomatic relations, you can visit the official Ministry of External Affairs account on Twitter.
As Arun Goel gets ready for his new job, people are paying close attention to his past work with the Election Commission and how he will adjust to his role in diplomacy. Political experts and the public are both interested in what this change will mean.
