New Delhi, March 10 -- In an unprecedented move a couple of days before the announcement of the General Elections schedule, Election Commissioner Arun Goel on Saturday late evening resigned from the post.

The three-member Election Commission of India already had a vacancy and will now be left only with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

Goel's tenure was scheduled to end in December 2027, and on the day when he announced his departure, sources said he worked until 5 pm at Nirvachan Sadan, finalising the minutest details of the schedule.

Goel was in line to replace Rajiv Kumar as the CEC after the latter's retirement next year.

As per the plan, the Election Commission was to announce the poll dates on Wednesday afternoon followin...