Impeachment Motion Against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar Likely in Parliament This Week
In a significant political development, an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is likely to be tabled in Parliament this week, marking the first such move against a sitting CEC. A senior Trinamool Congress leader confirmed this on Monday, indicating that the draft motion is being finalized and will be backed by multiple opposition parties.
Opposition Parties Unite Behind the Motion
Over the past few weeks, the Trinamool Congress, led by national general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee, has actively reached out to key opposition parties including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, CPM, and CPI. According to Trinamool functionaries, all these parties have backed the proposal to move the impeachment motion.
"All parties backed the proposal. Two Trinamool MPs and a Congress MP-designate, who is also a lawyer, worked on the draft," a senior TMC leader stated. The leader further added, "The CEC degraded the office he occupies," highlighting the grounds for the motion.
Draft Motion and Signature Collection
The draft impeachment motion is expected to be finalized within the next two days. Once ready, opposition MPs will begin collecting signatures from both Houses of Parliament. As per the rules, the notice requires signatures from at least 100 Lok Sabha MPs and 50 Rajya Sabha MPs to proceed.
The removal process for the Chief Election Commissioner is similar to that of a Supreme Court or high court judge, requiring grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity. A motion for removal may be introduced in either House and must be passed by a special majority—a majority of the total membership and a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.
Background and Previous Notices
Earlier, Trinamool MPs had given notices in both Houses to discuss issues related to "voter disenfranchisement." In the Lok Sabha, MP Saugata Roy submitted an adjournment motion notice demanding a debate on the matter. In the Rajya Sabha, MPs Nadimul Haque and Saket Gokhale gave notices under Rule 267, which allows for the suspension of business to discuss a specific issue.
This move comes amid broader political tensions and discussions on electoral integrity, with the opposition rallying behind the impeachment motion as a critical step to address concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission.
