New Delhi – In a big political development, opposition parties in India have come together to push for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Led by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), a total of 193 Members of Parliament (MPs) from the opposition have signed notices seeking his impeachment. This includes 130 MPs from the Lok Sabha and 63 from the Rajya Sabha. Sources say the notice is set to be submitted to the presiding officer of at least one House of Parliament today or by Friday. This is the first time in India’s history that such a step has been taken against a sitting CEC.
The move comes at a time when several states are gearing up for assembly elections. The opposition, under the INDIA bloc which includes parties like Congress and Samajwadi Party, has accused Kumar of acting in a way that favors the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). They point to problems in the voter list revisions in West Bengal as a key reason. The notice lists seven serious charges against him, ranging from biased behavior to blocking probes into election fraud.
This action highlights growing worries among opposition leaders about the fairness of the Election Commission of India (ECI). With the NDA holding a strong majority in Parliament, getting the required two-thirds support in both Houses to pass the motion will be tough. But the opposition sees this as a way to draw attention to what they call an attack on democratic institutions.
Background of the Controversy
Gyanesh Kumar took over as CEC in early 2025 after the retirement of the previous commissioner. He was appointed under the new law passed in 2023, which changed how election commissioners are selected. Before this, Kumar was a senior bureaucrat in the Ministry of Cooperation. His appointment was welcomed by some as bringing fresh ideas, but others questioned if it was influenced by the government.
The main spark for this notice came from issues in West Bengal’s voter rolls. The ECI started a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls there last year. This was meant to clean up the lists by removing fake or duplicate names. But opposition parties, especially TMC, say it led to the wrongful deletion of many genuine voters’ names. They claim lakhs of people, mostly from minority communities and poor backgrounds, were removed without proper checks.
In February 2026, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly criticized the ECI during a public meeting. She said the revisions were a plot to help the BJP in upcoming polls. “This is not fair play. They are trying to take away votes from people who don’t support them,” she told reporters. TMC leaders shared stories of voters finding their names missing or marked for deletion.
One sad case highlighted by the opposition was from Malda district. A 43-year-old woman took her own life after seeing her name under review in the voter list. She feared losing her citizenship rights. TMC posted about this on social media, blaming the ECI and CEC Kumar for causing distress. “How many more lives will be lost because of this mess?” asked a TMC spokesperson.
The opposition says these deletions are not random. They allege that the ECI under Kumar ignored complaints and did not investigate claims of fraud properly. In Bihar and Tamil Nadu too, there have been reports of money being given to voters during polls, but the ECI did not act strongly enough, according to critics.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi supported the move in a statement. “The Election Commission must be neutral. If it’s seen as helping one side, democracy suffers,” he said during a party meeting. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav added, “We can’t let institutions be misused. This notice is to protect fair elections.”
The Charges Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
The 10-page notice prepared by the opposition lists seven main charges. These are based on events from the past year, especially linked to voter roll changes and handling of complaints.
First, they accuse Kumar of “partisan and discriminatory conduct in office.” This means he acted in a way that favored the ruling party. For example, during recent by-elections, opposition parties say the ECI was slow to respond to their complaints about violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), but quick on issues raised by the BJP.
Second, the notice talks about “deliberate obstruction of investigation of electoral fraud.” In West Bengal, TMC filed many complaints about fake deletions in voter lists. They say the ECI did not order proper probes and even stopped some ongoing checks.
Third, there’s a charge of “mass disenfranchisement.” This refers to removing voting rights from large groups of people. Opposition leaders claim over 20 lakh names were deleted in West Bengal alone, many without giving people a chance to object.
Other charges include not ensuring transparency in ECI decisions, ignoring Supreme Court guidelines on voter rights, and failing to stop poll inducements like cash distribution in states like Bihar. A video shared by activists showed people claiming they got money from BJP workers during voting, but no action was taken.
A senior TMC MP involved in drafting the notice said, “We have proof from ground reports and complaints. This is not just talk; it’s about saving our elections.” The opposition has not reached out to non-INDIA parties like BJD or YSR Congress for support yet, but AAP, which left the bloc, has signed the notice.
The Legal Process for Removing a CEC
Removing a CEC is not easy. According to Article 324 of the Indian Constitution, the CEC can only be removed like a Supreme Court judge. That means “proven misbehaviour or incapacity” must be shown, and the motion needs support from two-thirds of members present and voting in both Houses.
The process starts with a notice signed by at least 100 MPs in Lok Sabha or 50 in Rajya Sabha. Once submitted, the Speaker or Chairperson refers it to the President. Then, Parliament debates and votes on it. If passed, the President can remove the CEC.
In this case, the opposition has more than enough signatures. But with the NDA controlling both Houses, the motion is unlikely to pass. Sources say the real goal is to highlight the issue and pressure the ECI ahead of state elections in West Bengal, Bihar, and others later this year.
Historian Ramachandra Guha noted in a recent article, “This is a landmark moment. Never before has the opposition challenged the CEC like this. It shows how tense politics has become.” There have been past attempts to remove other officials, like CBI directors, but none for the CEC.
Reactions from Ruling Party and ECI
The BJP has called the notice a “desperate move” by the opposition. Union Minister Amit Shah said in Parliament, “This is an attack on independent bodies. The ECI has done its job to clean up voter lists. Fake names were a problem for years.” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra added, “They are scared of losing elections, so they blame the umpire.”
The ECI has not commented directly on the notice yet. But in a press release last week, it defended the SIR process. “We followed all rules. Objections were heard, and only invalid entries were removed,” it said. CEC Kumar, during a visit to West Bengal, faced black flags from protesters but said the commission is committed to fair polls.
Neutral observers are divided. Some say the opposition has valid points about voter deletions, while others feel this could weaken the ECI’s image. “The commission must answer these charges openly,” said former CEC S Y Quraishi in an interview.
Implications for Upcoming Elections
This notice comes just before key assembly polls. In West Bengal, where TMC is in power, elections are due in May 2026. The voter roll issue could affect turnout and results. Opposition parties hope this move will rally their supporters and put the ECI under watch.
In other states like Maharashtra and Jharkhand, similar complaints about ECI bias have surfaced. If the motion leads to debates in Parliament, it could delay other business and heat up the political scene.
Experts say this could lead to calls for reforming how election commissioners are appointed. The 2023 law, which gives more power to the government in selections, has been challenged in court. The Supreme Court is hearing a case on it.
A political analyst from Delhi University said, “This is more than just about one person. It’s about trust in our election system. If people doubt the ECI, voter faith drops.”
The opposition plans to keep up the pressure. TMC leader Derek O’Brien tweeted, “We fight for democracy. No one is above the law, not even the CEC.” Congress has called for a special debate in Parliament on ECI reforms.
As of now, the notice is ready, and all eyes are on when it will be tabled. This could be a turning point in how India handles complaints against its poll body.
What Happens Next?
Once submitted, the Speaker of Lok Sabha or Vice President (as Rajya Sabha Chairperson) will decide if the notice is valid. If accepted, it goes to a committee for review. But given the numbers, it’s hard for the opposition to win the vote.
Still, this has already sparked talks across the country. Social media is buzzing with opinions. Some support the opposition, saying it’s time to check power. Others see it as politics before polls.
In the end, this move shows how divided Indian politics is today. With elections around the corner, every step matters.
FAQs
Q1: What is the notice against CEC Gyanesh Kumar about?
The notice is a formal step by opposition MPs to start the process of removing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from his post. It lists seven charges, like biased actions, blocking fraud checks, and removing many voters’ names wrongly. This is led by TMC and backed by INDIA bloc parties. It’s the first such notice against a CEC in India.
Q2: How many MPs have signed the notice?
A total of 193 MPs have signed it – 130 from Lok Sabha and 63 from Rajya Sabha. This meets the minimum needed: 100 for Lok Sabha and 50 for Rajya Sabha. Even AAP MPs signed, though they are not in the INDIA bloc now.
Q3: What are the main charges in the notice?
The charges include partisan conduct (favoring one party), stopping probes into election fraud, mass removal of voters’ rights (especially in West Bengal via SIR), lack of openness, ignoring court rules, and not stopping poll bribes. These are based on events in states like West Bengal and Bihar.
Q4: Can the CEC really be removed like this?
Yes, but it’s hard. The Constitution says the CEC can be removed only like a Supreme Court judge – for proven wrong acts or inability. The motion needs two-thirds yes votes in both Houses. With NDA in majority, it’s unlikely to pass, but it can lead to debates and attention.
Q5: Why is this happening now?
It links to voter list problems in West Bengal and claims of ECI bias before state polls. Opposition says the ECI under Kumar is helping BJP. They want to highlight this and push for fair elections.
Q6: What has the ruling party said?
BJP calls it an attack on institutions. They say the ECI is just cleaning fake names from voter lists, and opposition is scared of losing. No direct response from ECI yet on the notice.