IndiaPosted at: Oct 31 2026 10:59PM


INDIA Bloc stages 'Public Impeachment' of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, unanimously adopts six-charge resolution seeking his removal

Shahid K Abbas
New Delhi, Oct 31 (UNI) The Opposition INDIA bloc on Saturday escalated its confrontation with the Election Commission, unanimously adopting a six-charge resolution demanding the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and his trial in a court of law over allegations of electoral manipulation and the deletion of 13.2 crore voters from electoral rolls.
In an unprecedented political demonstration, opposition MPs and leaders held a mock Parliament at 10 Rajaji Marg, the official residence of Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, and conducted what they described as the "public impeachment" of the CEC.
The proceedings, presided over by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, culminated in the unanimous passage of a resolution accusing Gyanesh Kumar of conspiring with the ruling BJP to manipulate elections, undermining universal adult franchise and compromising the independence and constitutional autonomy of the Election Commission.
The resolution, moved by Kharge, enumerated six charges against the CEC, including an alleged conspiracy to steal national and state elections, the purported deletion of 13.2 crore voters through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, unauthorised changes to Form 6 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and the alleged centralisation of electoral-roll management through ERONET and ECINET software to restrict the ability of local Electoral Registration Officers to enrol legitimate voters.
The other charges concerned the alleged exclusion of the two Election Commissioners from important decision-making despite their reported objections on at least 14 occasions, and the accusation that Gyanesh Kumar had acted at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union Home Minister Amit Shah instead of discharging his constitutional responsibilities independently.
The resolution alleged that the SIR exercise had been conducted in a partisan, arbitrary and non-transparent manner, without adequate safeguards or observance of the principles of natural justice, thereby depriving millions of citizens of their fundamental democratic entitlement to participate in elections. It also accused the CEC of denying the Opposition a fair hearing and weakening the institutional independence of the poll panel.
Setting the tone for the proceedings, Meira Kumar said the denial of voting rights to even a single eligible citizen struck at the very soul and foundation of democracy. She explained that the mock Parliament had been convened in response to allegations that genuine voters were being removed from electoral rolls through an opaque process, threatening the constitutional principle of universal adult suffrage.
Addressing the gathering, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections had been compromised by large-scale deletions from electoral rolls. Claiming that 13.3 crore names had been removed, he argued that the scale of the alleged deletions was substantially greater than the three-percentage-point vote margin separating the Opposition from the BJP-led alliance.
Accusing the Election Commission of facilitating "vote chori" through the SIR exercise, Gandhi said those responsible for electoral manipulation would not be spared.
He argued that the symbolic proceedings had become necessary because all formal institutional avenues available to the Opposition to seek accountability had been closed.
Endorsing the demand for legal action against the CEC, he maintained that those responsible for the alleged manipulation of elections must face trial in a court of law.
Describing the confrontation as a test of the union of India, Gandhi expressed confidence that the people of the country would ultimately overcome the challenges confronting democracy.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several senior INDIA bloc leaders and MPs attended the proceedings, which were modelled on the functioning of a parliamentary House.
The mock Parliament also heard testimonies from people who claimed to have suffered because of deletions from electoral rolls. Anita Jaiswal, a single mother and daily-wage worker, made an emotional appeal, recounting how her name had allegedly been struck off the voters' list. Her testimony prompted desk-thumping and cries of "Shame" from opposition MPs.
All India Students' Association president Neha Bora also addressed the gathering, questioning why the issue had not been taken up through a formal parliamentary process and backing the demand for action against the CEC.
"You won't just be impeached, you will be jailed," she declared, reflecting the anger among sections of the audience.
The resolution also challenged the legal protection available to the CEC under the legislation enacted in December 2023 governing the appointment and service conditions of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners.
The Opposition alleged that the statutory protection had become a shield against accountability and demanded Gyanesh Kumar's immediate removal and prosecution for alleged offences against the Constitution.
The symbolic exercise is essentially a political demonstration aimed at mobilising public opinion and intensifying pressure on the government and the Election Commission after notices seeking the CEC's removal were rejected by the presiding authorities of the two Houses of Parliament.
The Opposition has maintained that 193 MPs had supported the formal notices.
The confrontation comes against the backdrop of an intensifying political battle over the SIR exercise, the transparency of electoral rolls and the functioning of the Election Commission.
The INDIA bloc has been demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, a rollback of the SIR exercise, restoration of the names of allegedly deleted genuine voters and a return to paper ballots.
Saturday's mock impeachment is also intended to serve as a political launchpad for the Opposition's November 1 mobilisation at Ramlila Maidan under the slogan "Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao". The rally, preceded by a march from the Minto Road–Connaught Place junction, is expected to bring together opposition parties and civil society groups protesting alleged electoral manipulation.
By staging a symbolic parliamentary trial of the CEC, the INDIA bloc has sought to take its campaign beyond Parliament and turn the controversy over voter deletions into a wider national movement centred on electoral integrity, institutional accountability and the protection of democratic rights.
UNI SKA RN
Tags: #INDIA Bloc stages 'Public Impeachment' of CEC Gyanesh Kumar# unanimously adopts six-charge resolution seeking his removal
More News

DFS to get 2,345 additional posts in first major cadre restructuring in 84 years

01 Nov 2026 | 12:18 AM

New Delhi, Oct 31 (UNI) In a major decision aimed at strengthening Delhi’s firefighting and emergency rescue services, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has approved the creation of 2,345 additional posts across various categories in the Delhi Fire Service (DFS). This follows a spate of incidents, including of house collape and fire in the national capital, including the devastating Hauz Rani fire in June 2026 that claimed 23 lives.

see more..

'Only Indians will vote, not infiltrators', says BJP; accuses Congress of ‘lying’ and ‘mocking’ Parliament

31 Oct 2026 | 11:37 PM

New Delhi, Oct 31 (UNI) Responding to the INDIA bloc’s ‘public impeachment’ of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the BJP on Saturday accused the Opposition of “disrespecting” Parliament and “democracy” and “lying”.

see more..

Delhi: Special winter pollution control restrictions take effect from Sunday

31 Oct 2026 | 11:17 PM

New Delhi, Oct 31 (UNI) As part of the Delhi government's intensified efforts to curb winter pollution, special restrictions will be in place in the national capital from November 1, with strict action for violations. .

see more..

INDIA Bloc stages 'Public Impeachment' of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, unanimously adopts six-charge resolution seeking his removal

31 Oct 2026 | 10:59 PM

Shahid K Abbas
New Delhi, Oct 31 (UNI) The Opposition INDIA bloc on Saturday escalated its confrontation with the Election Commission, unanimously adopting a six-charge resolution demanding the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and his trial in a court of law over allegations of electoral manipulation and the deletion of 13.2 crore voters from electoral rolls.

see more..

DCW takes strict cognizance over CM’s allegedly morphed image, notice sent to Jarnail Singh

31 Oct 2026 | 10:28 PM

New Delhi, Oct 31 (UNI) The Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), Lata Gupta, has taken suo-motu cognizance of a matter concerning an allegedly objectionable and morphed image of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, which was shared on a social media platform by MLA Jarnail Singh.
Taking serious note of the matter, DCW chair has issued a notice to the MLA concerned, seeking an explanation regarding the incident.
She has also directed him to immediately remove the said image from social media and issue a public apology.

see more..