Kerala Assembly passes resolution seeking removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar; 3 BJP MLAs dissent

On Monday, October 12, the Keralam Legislative Assembly passed a historic resolution seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The motion, presented by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, was approved with amendments by both the ruling Congress-led UDF and the opposition CPM-headed LDF, while three BJP members opposed it. The vote comes amidst nationwide protests demanding greater institutional accountability and transparency in national electoral processes.

Concerns over voter deletion and election rules

The resolution highlights widespread concerns over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Lawmakers warned that flawed procedures and technical manipulations risk disenfranchising vulnerable groups—including minorities, migrant workers, and young voters—without prior notice or clear criteria. It also cited media reports alleging that Electoral Registration Officers had their powers curtailed by software systems and that Form 6 was amended contrary to the 1960 Voter Registration Rules.

Commenting on the assembly's move, Satheesan posted online that "Keralam makes history", adding that "the integrity of our electoral process is non-negotiable".

Demands for selection panel restructuring

To restore public confidence, the House outlined three primary demands: correcting voter roll errors, removing the Chief Election Commissioner, and reforming the appointment process. Specifically, the resolution calls for restructuring the selection panel to include the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India. The Assembly noted that excluding the Chief Justice of India from the current selection committee undermines the independence of appointments.

Satheesan emphasized: "The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy. No institution can be allowed to undermine the constitutional rights of our citizens". He added that "the right to vote must be protected. The Constitution must be upheld. Democracy must prevail".

BJP pushback and wider legislative agenda

Opposing the resolution, BJP MLA V. Muraleedharan proposed amendments to defend the constitutional authority of the Election Commission. He sought to insert a line stating that "this media report has been pointed out as incorrect by the Election Commission itself" regarding the Form 6 controversy. Muraleedharan also suggested adding: "We strongly condemn the attempts by vested interests to discredit the Election Commission, a constitutional body".

Beyond the electoral debate, the Assembly session, scheduled to run through October 29, will take up key legislation, including legal guarantees for senior citizen care, tax adjustments, and higher education reforms.