Opposition parties are preparing to submit an impeachment notice against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar across both Houses of Parliament. The Congress party has initiated formal discussions with alliance partners to consolidate backing, with sources indicating that the formal notice will be introduced within the next two weeks. The development follows escalating friction between the opposition bloc and the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the poll body’s internal governance. The controversy intensified following reports suggesting that fellow Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded internal dissents on specific decisions and operational protocols over the past ten months. Renewed Push for Removal This planned legislative move represents a renewed bid by the opposition to initiate removal proceedings: Prior Motion: In April 2026, opposition parliamentarians had previously submitted a removal notice in the Rajya Sabha bearing the signatures of 73 MPs. Bicameral Strategy: Leaders across the INDIA bloc are now coordinating to place coordinated motions before both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Constitutional Procedure Under Article 324(5) of the Indian Constitution, the Chief Election Commissioner cannot be removed from office except through a procedure analogous to that of a Supreme Court judge—requiring a formal address supported by a special majority in both Houses of Parliament on grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity. Election Commission’s Position Media reports highlighted internal scrutiny regarding procedures for adding and removing voter names during nationwide voter list revisions. Addressing the reports, the Election Commission emphasized that internal divergence of opinion and thorough deliberation are intrinsic elements of the multi-member commission’s institutional framework, maintaining that all final rulings comply fully with statutory rules and established legal procedures. Post navigation Supreme Court on Vande Mataram Row: “We Expect No Criminal Action For Not Singing Due To Religious Reasons”
