Guwahati: The INDIA bloc on Saturday adopted a resolution demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of facilitating alleged electoral irregularities and conspiring with the BJP to manipulate national and state elections.
The resolution was presented by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge during the Opposition bloc’s symbolic “public impeachment” programme in New Delhi. It outlined six allegations against Kumar, including manipulation of electoral rolls, changes to voter registration rules without parliamentary oversight and alleged actions at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The Opposition has repeatedly questioned the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in the electoral process, particularly the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The BJP, in response, has accused Opposition parties of undermining constitutional institutions and promoting anarchy after failing to secure public support.
In its first allegation, the INDIA bloc accused Kumar of participating in what it described as a conspiracy orchestrated by the BJP to influence election outcomes. The resolution alleged that voter rolls were manipulated through the arbitrary addition and deletion of names.
It further accused the CEC of enabling an attack on the electoral process, describing the alleged actions as a violation of the rule of law and the Constitution.
The second charge focused on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Opposition held Kumar responsible for what it termed a manipulated and destructive exercise, alleging that around 13.2 crore voters had been deliberately removed from the rolls, thereby denying them their constitutional right to vote.
The third allegation concerned changes to Form 6 under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The INDIA bloc claimed that the amendments were made without parliamentary oversight or adequate public knowledge and were intended to obstruct the registration of first-time voters.
The fourth charge related to the use of the ERONET/ECINET software for managing electoral rolls. The Opposition alleged that the system had centralised control over voter registration and was being used to facilitate deletions while restricting local Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) from adding eligible voters.
The bloc’s fifth allegation concerned the functioning of the Election Commission as a multi-member body. It claimed that Kumar had excluded the other two Election Commissioners from important decision-making processes, despite their reportedly recording at least 14 objections. The resolution described this as a violation of the constitutional framework governing the Commission.
The sixth charge accused Kumar of failing to maintain the independence expected of the office of the Chief Election Commissioner. The Opposition alleged that he had denied it a fair hearing and acted under the influence of Modi and Shah.
The resolution also alleged that members of Kumar’s family had received benefits, including prominent postings and opportunities for financial remuneration, in return for what it described as his compliance with the ruling BJP.
Apart from the six allegations, the INDIA bloc questioned the legal protection provided to the CEC under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. It alleged that the immunity provision introduced by the government in December 2023 was intended to shield Kumar from accountability.
The resolution called for his immediate removal and demanded that he face trial under the constitutional and legal framework of the country.
The programme was presided over by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, while Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad and Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy served as vice-chairs.
Among those present were Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh and K C Venugopal. Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav and Trinamool Congress parliamentary party leader Derek O’Brien also attended.
The programme formed part of the INDIA bloc’s broader campaign against alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise and its demand for greater accountability from the Election Commission.