Congress Demands Resignation of CEC Amid Calls for All-Party Dialogue on Delimitation

The Congress party has called for the government to prorogue Parliament and engage in all-party discussions on delimitation, insisting that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar must resign first. Jairam Ramesh highlighted the unprecedented delay in proroguing the Monsoon session and criticized the government's failed attempts to secure a super-majority for controversial Bills. The opposition's unity has been pivotal in thwarting the government's plans, and Ramesh emphasized the need for restoring public trust in the electoral system. The demand for the CEC's resignation follows reports of internal objections within the Election Commission, raising questions about the integrity of the electoral process.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 12, 2026, 12:12 IST

Congress Urges Government to Prorogue Parliament

New Delhi: On Monday, the Congress party called for the government to prorogue both houses of Parliament and initiate an all-party discussion regarding the delimitation matter. However, they emphasized that a significant dialogue could only commence after the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary, pointed out that although both houses were adjourned sine die on August 13, the Monsoon session has yet to be prorogued.

He noted that the current gap has surpassed all previous records, with the last notable delay being 28 days for the Monsoon session in 2015.

Ramesh criticized the outgoing Union Home Minister's attempts to secure a super-majority in the Lok Sabha to push through the Modi government's controversial Delimitation Bills, stating that these efforts have failed significantly. He mentioned that several NDA allies have also expressed opposition to the Bills, showing newfound courage.

He referred to the situation as 'GyaneshGate,' which he claimed has captured national attention, and asserted that the opposition's unity had thwarted the Prime Minister and Home Minister's plans in the Lok Sabha on April 17, 2026.

During the Budget session on April 17, the Modi administration faced a setback when a constitutional amendment bill related to delimitation and women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was rejected in the Lower House.

Ramesh urged the Modi government to promptly prorogue both Houses and engage in a sincere all-party dialogue regarding the future of delimitation, a demand that has been reiterated by opposition leaders.

However, he insisted that the government must first ensure the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, suspend the SIR, and take measures to restore public confidence in the electoral system, which he claims has been severely compromised.

He expressed skepticism about the likelihood of the two individuals responsible for the alleged subversion taking such actions, but remained hopeful that ultimately, the Constitution would prevail and the will of the people would triumph.

The opposition has been vocal about demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner following a report indicating that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on record at least 14 times over the past ten months, primarily concerning decisions related to the SIR of electoral rolls.

In response to the criticisms from its commissioners, the Election Commission defended itself by stating that differing opinions are a standard aspect of discussions within any organization and affirmed that all its directives are legally valid and adhere to established statutory protocols.