Opposition parties are preparing to move an impeachment motion notice against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in both Houses of Parliament, with the Congress initiating discussions with other opposition parties, sources said on Thursday. According to Congress sources, the notice is likely to be submitted within the next two weeks.
The move comes amid renewed allegations and political exchanges over the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI), following media reports concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Indian Express published a fresh report stating that the Goa Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) had written to authorities in Delhi eight times within seven days, seeking access to certain facilities, but received no response.
The report came after an earlier media report claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding decisions and orders related to the SIR process.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra on Thursday filed a formal complaint against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Parliament Street Police Station, alleging procedural violations, unilateral decision-making and manipulation of electoral rolls.
Speaking to ANI after filing the complaint, Moitra questioned the legal immunity granted to the Chief Election Commissioner under the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
She argued that the protection against prosecution applies only when the Election Commission functions collectively as a multi-member body.
"I have come today to the Parliament Street Police Station and given a complaint to the police station here against 'Chor' Gyanesh Kumar, who is the Chief Election Commissioner of this country. And apparently he enjoys immunity under the CEC and EC Act of 2023, Section 16, which says that the Election Commissioners enjoy immunity from civil and criminal prosecution in the discharge of their duties. I'd like to point out that if acting as a concerted body, they may enjoy immunity," Moitra told ANI.
Senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwari also criticised the recent decisions of the poll body, alleging that the country's democratic foundations were facing a serious setback.
Speaking to ANI, Tiwari questioned why BJP leaders were responding to allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner instead of the Election Commission itself.
"It reminds me of an old proverb, 'Begani Shaadi Mein Abdulla Diwana' (an unnecessary intermeddler). The reply should have been given by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) or the Election Commission regarding the allegations, but Sambit Patra of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is giving the response. This clearly shows that there is guilt on their part," he said.
Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala on Thursday accused the Election Commission of India of being “hijacked” and demanded an immediate suspension of the SIR exercise, along with the removal and criminal investigation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
Addressing reporters, Surjewala alleged that the SIR exercise had led to the deletion of 13 crore voters across 19 states. He further claimed that Karnataka alone had witnessed 1.08 crore voter deletions, while another 43 lakh notices had been issued.
The figures were cited by Surjewala as part of the Congress's allegations. The Election Commission, however, has disputed the broader characterisation of its functioning and maintained that its decisions were taken unanimously.
“We are here with an extremely important issue that affects our polity, our nation, our state of Karnataka, and our people. Democracy is founded upon the right to vote of every individual,” Surjewala said.