INDIA Bloc Holds Symbolic Public Impeachment of Election Chief Gyanesh Kumar, Moves Six Charges

The Congress led INDIA bloc held symbolic public impeachment proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday, October 31, in New Delhi, and demanded his removal.

The proceedings took place at the official residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Organisers built a set recreating the Lok Sabha interiors, including the Speaker's dais. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar chaired the proceedings. Leaders from 19 political parties participated in the programme, which Kharge initiated.

Six charges, stated as allegations

Kharge read out six charges and moved a resolution against Kumar. The charges are allegations made by the opposition. They are not findings by a court or by any inquiry, and this article reports them as claims only.

The resolution alleged, first, that Kumar conspired to steal elections. Second, it alleged that he deleted 13.2 crore voters. Third, it alleged that he rewrote Form 6 without approval from Parliament. Fourth, it alleged that he seized the electoral rolls through ECINET. Fifth, it alleged that he shut out the other two Election Commissioners. Sixth, it alleged that he acted at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Kharge accused Kumar of "treason against the nation and Constitution". He said: "We want to save the foundation of democracy which is being threatened by the BJP."

What the bloc demanded

Kharge demanded that Kumar be removed forthwith, his words in the resolution, and that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, known as SIR, be stopped immediately. He also sought the immediate cancellation of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners Act of 2023, which the bloc said provides lifelong legal protection to election commissioners.

Kharge said members of the INDIA bloc represent 60 per cent of the country's population. Through the proceedings he also demanded that Kumar be tried for treason in a court of law.

As Kharge tabled the resolution, INDIA bloc members applauded by thumping desks and shouted slogans including "Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod".

Two different voter figures at the same event

At the same event, Rahul Gandhi alleged that 13.3 crore voters, nearly 15 per cent of India's electorate, had been removed from the electoral rolls. Gandhi argued that the scale of deletion raised doubts about the fairness of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, given victory margins of around 3 per cent in many seats.

That figure is Gandhi's claim, not an established finding. It also differs from the figure in the resolution itself, which alleged 13.2 crore voters deleted. Both figures were stated at the same event, and both are reported here as the speakers stated them.

Symbolic only, with no legal force

The proceedings were symbolic and carry no legal force. A Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge, under Article 324(5) of the Indian Constitution. Saturday's event did not remove Kumar from office and did not start a court case.

The programme was first scheduled for October 30 and was postponed by one day because of rain in Delhi, as Orbit Post reported at the time. A larger INDIA bloc march at Ramlila Maidan follows on November 1.