New Delhi: In an unprecedented move, Members of Parliament from the Opposition have submitted formal notices in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

Sources confirmed on Friday that the initiative has garnered major cross-party support, with 130 Lok Sabha MPs and 63 Rajya Sabha MPs signing the notice. The signatories represent a broad spectrum of the political landscape, including all constituent parties of the INDIA bloc. Interestingly, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also lent its support to the motion despite no longer being a formal member of the Opposition alliance.

The charges

This marks the first time in Indian parliamentary history that a notice has been moved for the removal of a CEC. According to sources, the notice outlines seven specific allegations against Kumar. These include

  • Partisan and discriminatory conduct in office
  • Deliberate obstruction of investigation of electoral fraud
  • Mass disenfranchisement

Allegations of bias

The Opposition has intensified its critique of the CEC, accusing him of repeatedly aiding the ruling BJP. Central to their grievance is the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition leaders allege that this process is being manipulated to favour the saffron party at the Centre.

The motion also saw support from several Independent MPs, with sources indicating that more legislators have expressed interest in joining the initiative as the process unfolds.
PTI