In a significant escalation of tensions between the Opposition and the Election Commission, several Opposition parties have jointly submitted a formal notice seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The move, filed on Friday, has drawn support from 193 Members of Parliament (MPs), surpassing the constitutional thresholds required to initiate such proceedings.
Constitutional Requirement and Support
Parliamentary rules mandate that a removal notice for the CEC must carry signatures from at least 100 Lok Sabha members and 50 Rajya Sabha members. The Opposition’s notice has exceeded these minimums, with 130 Lok Sabha MPs and 63 Rajya Sabha MPs backing the motion.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat has confirmed receipt of the notice filed by the Trinamool Congress, with scrutiny of the documents expected to begin shortly. The formal presentation of the notice is scheduled for Saturday.
Allegations Against the CEC
Opposition parties have cited multiple charges against Gyanesh Kumar, referencing Supreme Court judgments to bolster their claims. The allegations include:
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Denial of voting rights to eligible citizens.
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Partisan conduct favouring certain political parties.
The Opposition argues that these actions constitute a serious breach of constitutional duty and undermine democratic norms. They also suggest that the scale of support for the notice reflects the seriousness of concerns regarding the Election Commission’s functioning, especially during the ongoing Budget Session.
Two-Set Notice Strategy
In a meticulously planned move, the Opposition prepared two separate sets of notices to comply with parliamentary procedure:
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Lok Sabha Notice: Carries 130 signatures, exceeding the required 100.
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Rajya Sabha Notice: Includes 63 signatures, above the required 50.
This dual-notice approach ensures procedural compliance while reinforcing the Opposition’s position ahead of formal parliamentary discussions.
Opposition Projects Unity
The joint initiative has emerged as a rare point of consensus among Opposition parties, who often differ on policy matters. By uniting over concerns of electoral integrity, the notice signals a coordinated effort to hold the Election Commission accountable.
With the notice now in Parliament’s pipeline, the coming days are expected to feature intense debates over the independence and accountability of the Election Commission.