New Delhi: The country’s political theatre entered a new phase of confrontation on Monday as the opposition-led India Bloc announced its decision to move an impeachment notice against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The move, unprecedented in recent years, has intensified the standoff between the Election Commission and opposition parties, which accuse the electoral body of partisanship and shielding the government from accountability.
The India Bloc’s initiative comes against the backdrop of widespread controversy over the manner in which Kumar was appointed earlier this year under the new 2023 law. The legislation, which removed the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel and replaced the judiciary with a Union Cabinet Minister, had already sparked protests from the opposition and constitutional scholars. Critics argued that the change undermined the independence of the Election Commission by tilting the balance in favour of the executive. Kumar, a retired Kerala-cadre IAS officer, became the first CEC to be appointed under this arrangement in February 2025.
The impeachment notice follows weeks of political sparring between Rahul Gandhi and the Election Commission. Gandhi, leading his “Voter Adhikar Yatra” in Bihar, accused the Commission of complicity in “vote chori” (vote theft) and cited alleged irregularities in the Mahadevapura constituency. The CEC responded sharply, demanding that Gandhi submit a sworn affidavit substantiating his claims or issue a public apology within seven days. Kumar accused Gandhi of “manipulating” electoral data and misleading the public, insisting that his allegations were baseless.
Constitutionally, the removal of a Chief Election Commissioner is no simple process. Much like the removal of a Supreme Court judge, it requires resolutions to be passed by both Houses of Parliament with a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, along with support from more than half of the total membership of each House. The high threshold has historically ensured that the CEC remains protected from political pressures. However, the India Bloc’s move signals an attempt to highlight what it sees as a dangerous erosion of institutional neutrality.
The decision to pursue impeachment will likely set off a prolonged battle both inside Parliament and in the courts. The Supreme Court is already hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the 2023 law that enabled Kumar’s appointment. Any fresh proceedings will inevitably deepen the legal and political contest over the autonomy of India’s electoral institutions.
By filing this notice, the India Bloc is not merely challenging an individual but mounting a broader resistance to what it terms the “capture of institutions” by the ruling dispensation. Whether or not the numbers add up in Parliament for the motion to succeed, the battle over the Election Commission is set to become a defining issue in the months ahead casting a shadow on the integrity of future electoral contests.