Opposition parties and several social organisations have intensified their campaign against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in the ongoing intensive revision of electoral rolls. What began as a protest by a smaller party has now expanded into a broader opposition-led movement, with the Congress and INDIA bloc parties joining in.
After a brief pause due to festival-related schedules, the groups have announced a major rally and public meeting in Delhi on November 1. Congress leaders are holding a series of consultations to organise the event on a large scale.
The opposition has also decided to hold a “model Parliament” event at a Delhi hotel on October 30, where they plan to pass a resolution demanding the CEC’s resignation. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has rejected a plea seeking Gyanesh Kumar’s immediate suspension, and has instead issued notice directing the Election Commission to respond on issues linked to the special intensive revision.
Under the Constitution, removing a CEC requires a stringent parliamentary process similar to that for removing a Supreme Court judge, including a motion backed by a two-thirds majority of MPs. A first set of notices submitted by the opposition in both Houses was rejected by the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman, while a second notice is pending in the Rajya Sabha.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has said any fresh motion would be considered as per rules. The Union government has maintained that it will not intervene in the internal functioning of an independent constitutional body like the Election Commission, and noted that the current CEC was appointed under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment) Act, 2023.
