Opposition Unites to Consider Impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
Opposition's Collective Action Against CEC
New Delhi: The entire opposition is contemplating a joint decision regarding the potential impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, as stated by Congress leader K C Venugopal on Wednesday. This discussion follows West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent call for such action.
Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, has also voiced his support for Banerjee's stance against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
However, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, chose not to comment on the situation.
Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, Venugopal mentioned that they are 'positively' considering the proposal.
Banerjee, who was in the national capital to campaign against the SIR initiative in West Bengal, urged for the impeachment of the Chief Election Commissioner and sought to garner support from other opposition factions.
On Wednesday, she also presented her case in the Supreme Court, arguing against the SIR process, claiming it unfairly targets West Bengal and infringes on the rights of its citizens.
When asked about Banerjee's impeachment motion proposal, Venugopal confirmed that the Trinamool Congress has reached out to the Congress party, stating, 'I believe the entire opposition will deliberate on this significant issue raised by the Trinamool. We are looking at it positively.'
Akhilesh Yadav, whose party holds the second-largest number of seats in the Lok Sabha with 37 MPs, expressed his support for Banerjee, stating, 'Mamata Banerjee has donned a black coat against the black deeds of the BJP.'
'People must stand up. Losing your vote equates to losing your rights. Everything will be lost gradually... Your citizenship could be questioned. We stand with the honorable Mamata Banerjee,' he added.
In contrast, Rahul Gandhi refrained from commenting on Banerjee's statements.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi emphasized the need for transparency from the Election Commission.
'The manner in which the BJP is misusing the SIR and leveraging the Election Commission to infringe on voters' rights by removing names en masse is alarming. Mamata Ji is fighting this battle because many voters who traditionally support her party have reportedly been disenfranchised,' she remarked.
'She has taken this issue to the Supreme Court, and I commend her for that. Regarding the impeachment motion, if the Election Commission, an institution expected to uphold integrity, disregards that and follows a specific agenda, it is entirely unacceptable,' Chaturvedi added.
'I hope the Supreme Court, as a constitutional authority and part of the legal framework available to political entities, acknowledges this matter to ensure the credibility of the Election Commission remains intact. The transparency of the poll panel must be upheld, and voters' rights must be safeguarded. I believe she will prevail in this struggle,' she concluded.
Banerjee's comments came shortly after she and her delegation exited a meeting with CEC Kumar and other election officials regarding the SIR, alleging that the chief of the poll panel displayed arrogance and disrespected them.
Accompanied by individuals from her state who claim to be affected by the SIR process, Banerjee asserted during a press conference that the voters whose names were being removed were supporters of the Trinamool.
The impeachment process for the CEC mirrors that of a Supreme Court judge, requiring proven misconduct or incapacity for removal.
A motion for removal can be introduced in either House of Parliament and must secure a special majority, which entails a majority of the total membership and a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.