CEC Gyanesh Kumar faces Opposition backlash after rejecting vote fraud claims.
The Opposition bloc is preparing to escalate its fight with the Election Commission. Sources said leaders discussed bringing an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in Parliament. The move comes days after the CEC hit back at allegations of vote fraud levelled by the INDIA bloc.
The confrontation has opened a new political storm. The process to remove a CEC is similar to that of a Supreme Court judge. It requires a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament and proof of “misbehaviour or incapacity.” This sets a very high bar. Still, the very discussion of such a move signals how deep the standoff between the poll body and the Opposition has become.
The immediate flashpoint was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s charge of “vote chori” in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura Assembly segment during the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Mr Gandhi later launched the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, a 1,300 km campaign across 20 districts. The Congress and its ally RJD have also accused the Election Commission of colluding with the BJP to alter voter lists in Bihar ahead of state polls.
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In response, CEC Gyanesh Kumar accused the Opposition of using the poll body as a “launchpad” to attack voters for political gain. He said the Election Commission does not discriminate between ruling and Opposition parties. “More than 1 crore officials, over 10 lakh booth-level agents and over 20 lakh polling agents work for a Lok Sabha election. Can anyone steal votes in front of so many people and with such a transparent process?” he asked.
He dismissed claims of double voting, saying no proof was submitted. He also demanded that Rahul Gandhi file an affidavit to support his charges or apologise to the nation. “There is no third option,” Mr Kumar said.
This scenario highlights a larger concern. The public's confidence in the Election Commission is being strained by today's politics, and accusations of bias can undermine trust and raise questions about neutrality.
The conflict between the opposition and the polling agency highlights the conflict between institutional independence and political responsibility.
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The Congress has doubled down. Party MP Syed Naseer Hussain said, “The Chief Election Commissioner spoke like a BJP spokesperson. We will use every option available to us in a parliamentary democracy.”
The BJP has mocked the Opposition’s plan. Rajya Sabha MP Radha Mohan Das Agarwal said, “What can we expect from fools? I am surprised they have not brought impeachment motions against the Supreme Court and high courts.”
With both sides refusing to soften their stance, the clash is set to intensify. The Opposition may not succeed in removing the poll body chief, but the debate itself puts the Election Commission under an uncomfortable spotlight.
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In the months ahead, how this institution responds to political challenges will shape both its credibility and the trust of India’s voters.
