Opposition mulls impeachment motion against CEC Gyanesh Kumar amid ‘vote theft’ dispute

The opposition is likely to move an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The move is being considered amid growing criticism from several opposition parties over what they allege are instances of bias and irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission.

While details of the draft motion have not been disclosed, sources indicated that talks are ongoing among key opposition leaders to finalize the language and gather the required support before formally tabling it.

Under parliamentary procedure, an impeachment motion requires the signatures of at least one-third of the members of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha to be admitted for consideration.

Once admitted, it must be passed by a two-thirds majority in both Houses for the motion to succeed.

The opposition parties have in recent months accused the poll panel of favoring the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in its decisions on code of conduct violations and campaign activities.

The government, however, has defended the commission, calling it an autonomous institution working within the framework of the Constitution.

If the motion is formally introduced, it would mark a rare development in Indian parliamentary history, as impeachment proceedings against a Chief Election Commissioner have never been carried out before.

Political observers note that the move reflects the deepening confrontation between the opposition bloc and the ruling party ahead of crucial state elections and with an eye on the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.

For now, opposition leaders are expected to meet in the coming days to assess parliamentary arithmetic and gauge whether the numbers can be mobilized to push the motion forward.