Opposition parties have submitted a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, intensifying political debate over the Election Commission’s conduct.
New Delhi: Opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha have submitted a fresh notice seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Parliament on Friday, alleging bias, procedural irregularities, and misconduct in the functioning of the Election Commission.
The move, backed by MPs from multiple parties including Congress and TMC, comes amid escalating political tensions over the poll body’s handling of complaints and Model Code of Conduct enforcement.
Also Read
What has the opposition done in Rajya Sabha?
Opposition parties have submitted a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The move was reportedly backed by 73 MPs from several opposition parties and submitted to the Rajya Sabha Secretary General by senior leaders including Jairam Ramesh and Sagarika Ghose.
The notice seeks an address to the President of India for initiating proceedings to remove the CEC, citing provisions under Article 324(5) of the Constitution along with related legal frameworks governing the Election Commission.
Why are allegations of “misbehaviour” being raised?
The opposition has accused the CEC of “proved misbehaviour”, claiming partisan enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct. A key allegation is that the Election Commission failed to act on complaints related to a televised address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 18, during a period when the Model Code was reportedly in force in certain states.
They argue that this reflects inconsistent application of rules, particularly when compared to quicker action taken in complaints involving opposition leaders.
The notice refers to an official social media post by the Election Commission on platform X after a meeting with a Trinamool Congress delegation. According to the opposition, the post publicly named and criticised a recognised political party, which they argue is unprecedented for a constitutional body.
They claim this conduct raises concerns over institutional neutrality and communication standards during an active electoral process.
What other allegations have been made against the CEC?
Opposition MPs have also raised multiple administrative and procedural concerns. These include alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions in states such as West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, claims of voter deletions, and questions over the criteria used in the process.
They further allege that certain bureaucratic transfers in poll-bound states exceeded the Election Commission’s constitutional mandate and affected electoral fairness.
Opposition leaders have described the situation as a serious institutional concern. Jairam Ramesh has claimed that there are multiple documented charges against the CEC, arguing that continued functioning in office undermines constitutional neutrality.
He has also alleged selective action in complaint handling and suggested that the institution is acting under external influence, a claim that adds to the political intensity of the controversy.
The notice has reportedly been supported by MPs from a broad opposition alliance, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK, Left parties, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), RJD, IUML, and other like-minded parties.
This indicates coordinated opposition pressure across multiple regional and national parties.
What has happened in earlier attempts?
This is not the first attempt to initiate removal proceedings against the CEC. Earlier notices submitted in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were rejected by presiding officers, who ruled that the allegations did not meet the constitutional threshold of “misbehaviour” required for removal.
Those rulings effectively stalled earlier attempts before they could proceed to a formal inquiry stage.
If the notice is admitted, it could lead to the formation of an inquiry committee to examine the allegations. If both Houses of Parliament approve the motion with the required special majority, it may trigger formal removal proceedings against the Chief Election Commissioner.
For now, the matter remains under parliamentary consideration, with no official acceptance of the motion yet confirmed.
(With PTI inputs)
Published: 24 Apr 2026, 06:50 pm IST
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.