NATIONAL: Opposition to Impeach Chief Election Commissioner Over Vote Controversy?
Opposition’s Allegations and Impeachment Buzz
The Election Commission of India has come under intense opposition fire over allegations of large-scale vote rigging. In this backdrop, reports suggest that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar may face an impeachment notice.
Sources indicate that opposition members are actively considering bringing such a motion in Parliament. Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi stated that a final decision would be taken shortly.
Constitutional Requirement for Removal of CEC
Removing the CEC is a constitutionally stringent process, requiring a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament.
The opposition, however, lacks the numerical strength to reach this threshold, casting doubt on the feasibility of the move despite the rising political noise.
Election Commission Counters Allegations
Amid growing protests, Gyanesh Kumar addressed the media on Sunday, flanked by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
They categorically rejected the charges of electoral malpractice, urging Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to present substantive evidence or issue a public apology.
- The Commission has demanded an affidavit with Gandhi’s signature within a week.
- Failure to provide evidence, it warned, would render the allegations baseless.
The CEC stressed that political attempts to undermine the EC’s credibility and mislead voters would not succeed.
Parliament Disruptions Continue
The impeachment reports surfaced as Parliament remained embroiled in turmoil.
The Lok Sabha witnessed persistent slogans from opposition MPs demanding a debate on alleged vote theft, while the Rajya Sabha was adjourned until 2 p.m. due to uproar.
Rahul Gandhi’s Accusation on Voter List Revision
Rahul Gandhi has accused the Election Commission of facilitating electoral malpractice through the special revision of the voter list in Bihar.
Using his WhatsApp channel, he alleged that names of citizens who voted in the last Lok Sabha elections were deliberately removed from the updated rolls. He described the revision exercise as a “new weapon” for vote theft.