NEW DELHI: The opposition on Saturday unanimously passed a "resolution" to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls during a "mock Parliament" organised at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence.Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar presided over the proceedings, with several MPs and activists supporting the demand for the CEC's removal.Kharge moved the resolution seeking Kumar's removal, accusing him of centralising control over electoral rolls and acting at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. Kharge also said that SIR was initiated to remove voters opposed to Bharatiya Janata Party."The proposal we are bringing today is to safeguard the dignity of a constitutional institution. We have no personal enmity with the CEC. Our intention is that the Election Commission should function impartially in keeping with the spirit of the Constitution," Kharge said."The trust of the common man in it should remain intact. No one sitting in Delhi should be able to wrongly delete the voting rights of weaker sections, women, and youth using a…
Oppn 'impeaches' CEC in 'mock Parliament', but what will it take to remove him for real
In short
Opposition parties conducted a simulated parliamentary proceeding at Mallikarjun Kharge's residence, passing a resolution against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of centralized control and political bias. Rahul Gandhi framed the demonstration as a targeted political weapon against top government leadership. A real removal remains a formidable hurdle, governed by strict constitutional standards mirroring Supreme Court judge impeachments that previously stalled when parliamentary presiding officers dismissed the opposition's official notices.
Key points
- Removing the poll chief requires proving misbehaviour or incapacity through an inquiry co…: Removing the poll chief requires proving misbehaviour or incapacity through an inquiry committee under Articles 324(5) and 124(4).
- Formal proceedings necessitate an initial threshold of 100 Lok Sabha or 50 Rajya Sabha me…: Formal proceedings necessitate an initial threshold of 100 Lok Sabha or 50 Rajya Sabha members to even sponsor a removal motion.
- The opposition is utilizing symbolic demonstrations to highlight grievances over electora…: The opposition is utilizing symbolic demonstrations to highlight grievances over electoral rolls after their formal legislative avenues were blocked.