New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— In a move without precedent in the history of Indian democracy, a coalition of opposition parties has gathered the necessary signatures to move a motion for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Sources confirmed on Thursday, March 12, 2026, that a total of 193 Members of Parliament, including 130 from the Lok Sabha and 63 from the Rajya Sabha, have signed the notice. The motion is expected to be formally submitted in at least one House of Parliament this Friday, marking the first time such a process has been initiated against a sitting head of the Election Commission.
The move is led by the INDIA bloc and has received additional support from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Lawmakers reportedly showed significant urgency in signing the document, with the required numbers- 100 in the Lok Sabha and 50 in the Rajya Sabha—being surpassed well before the formal announcement. The development signals a deepening crisis of trust between the primary electoral watchdog and the country’s opposition leadership.
Seven Charges of Misconduct
The notice lists seven high-stakes charges against Gyanesh Kumar, ranging from partisan and discriminatory conduct in office to the deliberate obstruction of investigations into electoral fraud. Most notably, the opposition has accused the CEC of facilitating “mass disenfranchisement” during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. These allegations have been particularly loud in West Bengal, where Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee has accused the commission of systematically deleting genuine voters to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The opposition contends that the CEC’s actions have compromised the integrity of the electoral process. They allege that the commission has acted in a manner that favors the central government, specifically during sensitive revision processes that determine who is eligible to vote in upcoming contests.
A Judicial-Level Impeachment Process
Under Indian law, the removal of a Chief Election Commissioner is an arduous process identical to that of a Supreme Court or High Court judge. A CEC can only be removed on the grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity. For the motion to succeed, it must be passed by a special majority in both Houses, meaning a majority of the total membership and a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.
If the motion is admitted by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, a joint committee will be constituted to investigate the charges. This committee’s findings will determine whether the impeachment process continues to a final vote. While the legal bar for removal is exceptionally high, the sheer scale of political coordination behind this notice presents a significant challenge to the perceived independence of the Election Commission.
