Women stand in a queue to cast their votes in Chachiyawas village, near Ajmer, India, Nov 25, 2023. National elections in India are expected over a period of staggered voting in April and May. (PHOTO / AP)

NEW DELHI - India's election commissioner Arun Goel, the second-highest official in the country's election commission, tendered his resignation on Saturday.

Goel's resignation came as a surprise weeks ahead of the country's general elections.

The election commission of India had a vacancy and the three-member panel is now left only with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar

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Officials say that the date of voting and counting was likely to be announced next week. Goel's resignation has now put a question mark on that announcement.

India's federal ministry of law and justice said in a gazette notification that President Droupadi Murmu had accepted Goel's resignation.

The ministry, however, has not cited any reason for his resignation.

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The election commission of India had a vacancy and the three-member panel is now left only with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.