In a significant political development, the INDIA opposition coalition has announced plans to move an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The move follows mounting allegations and concerns raised by opposition parties accusing Kumar and the Election Commission of India (ECI) of failing to ensure free and fair elections, particularly over irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of electoral rolls in Bihar.
The consensus to push for the impeachment was reached during a recent meeting of opposition floor leaders, chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The coalition, which includes major parties such as Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK, RJD, CPI(M), AAP, and Shiv Sena (UBT), expressed strong dissatisfaction with Kumar’s handling of voter list discrepancies and his confrontational stance towards opposition leaders.
Reacting at a press conference, CEC Gyanesh Kumar had challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had publicly alleged “vote chori” (vote theft), to either submit a sworn affidavit with evidence or apologize to the nation. Kumar dismissed opposition claims as politically motivated and defended the integrity of the election process, emphasizing that the Election Commission treats all parties equally without bias.
Despite Kumar’s rebuttal, opposition leaders remain unconvinced. Congress’s Gaurav Gogoi stated that all democratic tools would be deployed to hold the CEC accountable for what they describe as “misbehaviour” and failure in constitutional duty. Similarly, Trinamool Congress’s Abhishek Banerjee criticized the Election Commission for acting like a “political spokesperson” rather than an impartial constitutional authority.
Legal experts note that removing the CEC requires a stringent process similar to impeaching a Supreme Court judge, demanding a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament along with proven grounds of misbehaviour or incapacity. Given the opposition lacks the numbers for such a majority, this move is largely seen as a strategic pressure tactic to challenge the poll body’s credibility and demand greater transparency.
This confrontation highlights wider political tensions as India prepares for upcoming elections. The opposition’s push for impeachment underscores growing concerns over electoral integrity and trust in democratic institutions, themes expected to dominate both parliamentary debates and public discourse in the coming months. For voters and political observers, these developments serve as a reminder of the crucial role the Election Commission plays as the guardian of India’s democracy, and the constant vigilance needed to maintain the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.
Discliamer: This image is taken from Mint.
