New Delhi (03.05.2021): If there ever was a move to making the CEC Sunil Arora, who completed his term on April 12, 2021, a governor of any state (Goa figured among the speculated states), it had to be dropped on account of severe criticism by the Madras HC which observed on April 27 that the Election Commission was singularly responsible for the deadly surge of the Xi Jinping Covid virus by permitting hugely crowded and frequent campaigns for five state assembly elections.

The Madras HC was so deeply concerned over the rising death figures that it couldn't restrain itself and said the EC should be probably booked for murder.

Against this background, it might have become absolutely unreal for the government in rewarding Arora with a gubernatorial posting.

Even though Arora is reputed as a performing civil servant and there is no blemish on his career records, his appointment as Governor so soon after relinquishing the office of the chief election commissioner would have raised doubts about his integrity and impartiality.

So to save his public image as well as the image of the government, the Governorship plan for Arora might have been put in cold storage.