Eyebrows were raised sparking speculation over what was behind Goel's sudden resignation. There has so far been a discreet silence from official quarters. Goel's tenure was till December 2027 and he was expected to take over as Chief Election Commissioner(CEC) after incumbent Rajiv Kumar retired in February next year. This is the first time an EC resigned only days before Lok Sabha poll notification. Following the resignation the three member Election Commission is now down to one member-Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

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While Goel cited "personal reasons" for his resignation, there were rumours of "serious differences on issues relating to forthcoming polls" with the government. Speculation is rife that the differences cropped up between Goel and other members of the Election Commission over poll preparations which also included election dates in West Bengal.

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Trinamool Congress(TMC) leader Saket Gokhale in a post on X stated-"This is very concerning." Mahua Moitra TMC MP taking the similar route questioned the sudden move saying-"Why does EC Arun Goel resign right after ECI's full poll review meeting in Kolkata where he left abruptly? Apparently disagreed  with Delhi's diktat on the number of phases and excessive force deployment. Will now be replaced by a hand picked yes man."

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Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge while questioning this sudden intriguing move hit back, saying “As I have said earlier if we do not stop the systematic decimation of our independent institutions, our democracy shall be usurped by dictatorship."

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As debate rages over Goel's resignation, a meeting of the high level Election Commission panel headed by the  Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to be held shortly.

With Goel's resignation the elections process has come under a cloud as questions were already being raised over the funding of political parties via electoral bonds. Eyebrows were yet again raised following the State Bank of India's controversial move to delay the disclosure of each electoral bond encashed by political parties.

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If Goel's resignation has given rise to controversies and accusations, so was his appointment on November 18,2022. Goel a 1985 IAS officer of Punjab cadre was appointed as an Election Commissioner a day after he voluntarily quit his government job. His appointment was challenged in the Supreme Court, which questioned the government over the "sudden rush" in appointing Goel. Later, however, the plea was dismissed by a two-judge bench in 2023 citing that a constitution bench had examined the issue.

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Goel is the second election commissioner who quit before taking over as the CEC. Nearly four years back election commissioner Ashok Lavasa had opposed clean chits given by the Election Commission to Prime Minister, Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged violation of model code of conduct. Lavasa, whose family members came under the Income Tax scanner, resigned citing his appointment as vice president of the Asian Development Bank.