Opposition weighs impeachment motion against CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The Opposition is weighing a possible impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar , following allegations of misconduct during West Bengal’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Congress leader K C Venugopal said on Wednesday that parties would take a collective call on the matter.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament House complex , Venugopal said the Opposition is “positively” considering the proposal initiated by the Trinamool Congress (TMC). “The Trinamool Congress has already contacted the Congress, and I think the entire Opposition will take a call on the matter, which is one of the most relevant issues raised by the Trinamool,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi , Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, declined to comment directly on the proposal, stating, “I am not commenting on that.”

Mamata Banerjee , who has been in Delhi to protest the SIR process in West Bengal, first raised the idea of impeachment on Tuesday. She alleged that the revision exercise disproportionately affected Trinamool supporters , with names being removed from the voter list, and claimed that the CEC behaved arrogantly and humiliated her delegation during discussions. Banerjee also admitted that the Opposition currently lacks the numbers in Parliament to remove the CEC, but she believes it is important to officially record the demand .

The Election Commission , however, has pushed back, stating that Banerjee’s team misbehaved and left abruptly , denying any wrongdoing on the part of the CEC.

Support for Banerjee’s stance has come from other Opposition parties, including Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav , and consultations are reportedly underway among Opposition parties on strategy and timing. Observers note that even raising an impeachment motion would likely be symbolic if the Opposition does not have sufficient numbers, but it could pressure the government and generate parliamentary debate on electoral accountability.

Under the Constitution, a Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only on grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity , following the same process used for removing a Supreme Court judge . Any motion must be introduced in either House of Parliament and passed with a special majority - a majority of total membership plus two-thirds of members present and voting.

At this stage, no formal impeachment motion has been filed, and the allegations remain political and unproven . The Opposition is yet to specify the exact grounds of misbehaviour in legal terms.

With political tensions rising and general elections approaching, the Opposition’s next move on this matter is expected to dominate parliamentary discussion in the coming days.