New Delhi: Opposition parties have begun a signature campaign to initiate proceedings for the removal of Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner of the Election Commission of India, sources informed Dynamite News.
According to senior parliamentary sources, more than a dozen Members of Parliament from the Lok Sabha have already signed a notice seeking action against the poll body chief. Chief whips of several opposition parties are coordinating efforts to gather the required number of signatures before formally submitting the motion.
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Opposition Parties Coordinate Signature Drive
Sources indicated that the initiative has been taken collectively by the joint opposition bloc. Leaders said signatures are currently being collected from MPs across parties, and the notice could be submitted by Friday.
The move comes at a time when Parliament is witnessing heightened political tensions, with opposition parties already engaged in a no-confidence motion against Om Birla, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Political sources said the proposal against the Chief Election Commissioner is being discussed among multiple opposition parties, with the Trinamool Congress reportedly playing a key role in pushing the initiative.
Debate Over Which House to Move Motion
Opposition leaders are yet to finalise whether the motion will be introduced in the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha, or in both Houses of Parliament.
Under parliamentary procedures, a notice for such a motion requires the support of at least 100 members in the Lok Sabha or 50 members in the Rajya Sabha to be formally admitted. The discussions are still ongoing within the opposition bloc to determine the most strategic route for moving the motion.
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Charges Being Finalised
Sources also indicated that a detailed set of allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner is being prepared and could form the basis of the proposed motion.
Among the issues being discussed are claims of mass disenfranchisement through voter roll revision exercises and allegations of misconduct in the conduct of elections, though the final draft of the chargesheet is still being prepared.
If the motion is formally introduced, it is expected to intensify political confrontation between the opposition and the ruling alliance in Parliament, potentially leading to further disruptions in the ongoing session.
