Opposition Moves Impeachment Motion Against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar

The Trinamool Congress today (13 March) moved an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in both Houses of Parliament, marking the first time a sitting CEC has faced such proceedings.

A total of 193 Opposition MPs—130 from the Lok Sabha and 63 from the Rajya Sabha—have signed the notice, far exceeding the required threshold of 100 and 50 signatures respectively.

The notice lists seven charges against Kumar, ranging from "partisan and discriminatory conduct in office" to "deliberate obstruction of investigation of electoral fraud" and "mass disenfranchisement".

The impeachment bid centres on allegations surrounding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal, where the TMC claims more than 63 lakh voters were wrongly deleted.

The TMC has alleged procedural violations and claimed instructions were communicated through messaging platforms rather than official channels during the SIR.

TMC MP Kirti Azad claimed the party's delegation was treated disrespectfully during a meeting with Kumar earlier, with state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya accusing the CEC of misbehaviour.

The Opposition has been considering such action since August 2025, when 20 parties issued a joint statement claiming the Election Commission had "completely failed" in ensuring free and fair polls.

Under Article 324 of the Constitution, the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only on grounds applicable to Supreme Court judges -- proved misbehaviour or incapacity.

The motion requires a special majority of two-thirds of members present and voting in both Houses, along with a three-member inquiry committee.

The BJP rejected the allegations, with MP Damodar Agrawal criticising the Opposition for targeting constitutional institutions.

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