Opposition Prepares Third Impeachment Notice Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The opposition is preparing to submit a fresh impeachment notice against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, according to multiple media reports citing unnamed people familiar with the developments. This would mark the third such attempt against Kumar, who assumed office on 19 February 2025.

The earlier notice, submitted in the Rajya Sabha in April and signed by 73 MPs, remains pending. Before that, separate notices were filed in both Houses on 12 March, with 130 MPs signing the Lok Sabha motion and 63 the Rajya Sabha one. Both were rejected on 6 April, with neither presiding officer assigning any reason. The March motions cited the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged partisan and discriminatory conduct by the CEC, along with obstruction of investigations into electoral fraud and the SIR.

The renewed push follows heightened scrutiny of the poll body after investigative reports highlighted internal dysfunction. Two of the three Election Commission members, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, reportedly objected at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions related to the SIR rollout, and complained about being kept in the dark on various matters. The Election Commission defended its decision-making, stating that differing views within an institution are a normal part of deliberation before a final decision.

The Congress has demanded Kumar's resignation, with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi among those calling for his removal. Under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, the CEC can be removed only in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge, as provided under Article 124(4) — proven misbehaviour or incapacity. The process requires a motion signed by at least 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha or 50 in the Rajya Sabha, a committee inquiry, and a two-thirds majority in both Houses. No CEC has ever been impeached in India.