Opposition INDIA Bloc leaders met on Monday to debate an impeachment notice against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid the ‘voter theft’ row. Controversy had erupted earlier this month after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi accused the poll body of facilitating large-scale electoral fraud during the 2024 general elections. The CEC has since rejected the allegation of double-voting and ‘vote theft’ as “baseless” — asking Gandhi to CEC also asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to either furnish a signed affidavit or apologise to the nation for his remarks. An impeachment motion, however, will have to wait for some time.
Impeachment motion during Monsoon Session?
Trinamool Congress lawmaker Abhishek Banerjee however, clarified that it would not be possible for the Opposition to move an impeachment motion against CEC Gyanesh Kumar during the current session of Parliament. The Diamond Harbour MP noted that such proceedings required a notice to be given 14 days in advance. With only three days left in the Monsoon Session it would not be possible to bring up impeachment.
“But most definitely it will be moved in next session because of the way the Election Commission is working against the Constitution,” he added.
Opposition MPs hold meeting
Several Opposition leaders met in the chamber of the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday to discuss the CEC press conference. Sources told PTI that many of the opposition MPs felt that this fight had to be taken forward — suggesting an impeachment motion against the CEC. They also noted that the poll body had not answered or cleared the doubts they raised about the poll process.
“We were expecting yesterday that the Election Commission would answer and address all concerns and questions being raised by the public and would clear doubts and anomalies being pointed out by people. The EC has not given any answers on people declared dead in electoral rolls and is acting as spokesperson of BJP and talking in the same manner as BJP spokesperson. We need a completely impartial CEC and Election Commission in the country. We are ready to use any process in Parliamentary democracy, if need be,” said Congress leader Naseer Hussain.