The Trinamool Congress, backed by several opposition parties, submitted an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in both Houses of Parliament on Friday.
The notice lists seven charges, including partisan conduct, obstruction of electoral fraud investigations, and mass disenfranchisement. Opposition leaders accused Kumar of aiding the ruling BJP, particularly during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Concerns grew in West Bengal, where Mamata Banerjee alleged that genuine voters were being deleted.
Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee confirmed that Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK, and NCP (SCP) lawmakers signed the motion. He said the decision came from TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, with over 120 Lok Sabha MPs and 60 Rajya Sabha MPs supporting the move.
The Constitution under Article 324(5) states that the Chief Election Commissioner can only be removed through the same process as a Supreme Court judge. The Judges Enquiry Act requires at least 100 Lok Sabha members or 50 Rajya Sabha members to sign the motion. The Speaker or Chairman then decides whether to admit or reject it after consultation.
Opposition leaders argue that the SIR exercise aims to disenfranchise their supporters. Trinamool MP Saugata Roy earlier said more than 100 MPs supported the impeachment motion, stressing that the opposition stands united.
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