The motion, if moved, will mark the first time in recent history that the top election official faces such proceedings in Parliament.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, August 18 — The opposition INDIA alliance is preparing to move an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, escalating its confrontation with the Election Commission of India (ECI). The move comes in the wake of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s explosive allegations of widespread voter fraud during the recent general elections.
Sources said INDIA bloc leaders have reached an “in-principle” agreement to initiate impeachment proceedings and are likely to reach out to other parties, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), to broaden support. The move would allow the opposition to target the ECI inside Parliament and expose what they allege are “major irregularities” with legal immunity. If carried forward, this would be the first-ever impeachment case against a serving Chief Election Commissioner in Indian history.
“This will also drive home the point among the public at large that Gyanesh Kumar has destroyed the credibility of the ECI and was brazenly collaborating with the BJP to manufacture a majority,” a senior INDIA bloc leader told reporters.
The opposition parties are livid with the Election Commission for using provocative language during its August 17 press conference, where Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar challenged Rahul Gandhi to either swear his allegations of vote theft on affidavit or tender an apology to the nation. “It’s time we show Gyanesh Kumar his place,” said an opposition leader.At a press conference last week, Rahul Gandhi accused the poll body of facilitating “vote chori (vote theft)” in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Haryana. He alleged that the commission had enabled large-scale manipulation of voter rolls in BJP’s favor.
READ: Nine Critical Questions ECI Ducked on “Vote Chori”
On August 7, Gandhi cited what he described as concrete evidence from Bengaluru Central’s Mahadevapura assembly segment, claiming that 100,250 votes were “stolen” in the constituency — a manipulation that, he argued, directly contributed to BJP’s victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha seat.
“The Election Commission has ceased to be a neutral constitutional authority and is now functioning as an extension of the BJP,” Gandhi charged, accusing the institution of “colluding” with the ruling party to subvert democracy.
The INDIA bloc’s move to pursue impeachment marks an unprecedented and confrontational step, with potential far-reaching political and constitutional consequences. Opposition leaders insist that without accountability under parliamentary mechanisms, public trust in India’s electoral system risks further erosion.
READ: Media Bias: Two Hours for EC, Two Minutes for Rahul
Meanwhile, CEC Gyanesh Kumar, addressing a press conference in New Delhi, defended the Commission’s credibility. He maintained that electoral rolls were shared with all political parties for verification well ahead of the elections and stressed that due process had been followed.
The coming days are expected to witness intense debates inside and outside Parliament as the opposition presses ahead with its impeachment strategy, while the ruling BJP is set to close ranks behind the Election Commission and its leadership.
