INDIA bloc stages symbolic ‘public impeachment’ of Chief Election Commissioner
publishers 35articles 100first reported 24 Oct, 11:51 UTCdeveloping since 24 Oct · 9 editionstop 25 #14
India’s opposition INDIA bloc staged a symbolic “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi on Saturday, accusing him of electoral irregularities linked to the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.
The mock proceedings, held at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence, were modelled on a parliamentary session and presided over by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. Kharge moved a symbolic removal motion containing six charges, including allegations that Kumar conspired with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, acted at the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, and oversaw the deletion of about 13.2 crore voters. Participants unanimously adopted the motion by a show of hands.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi called the exercise a “political weapon” against people he alleged had helped undermine voting rights. He said the bloc resorted to the event because institutional avenues were closed to it and argued that Kumar should be removed and prosecuted. Voters who said their names had been wrongfully removed from electoral rolls also addressed the gathering.
The proceedings had no constitutional or legal force. Under India’s Constitution, a chief election commissioner can be removed only through a parliamentary process requiring a special majority, on the same grounds and in the same manner as a Supreme Court judge.
The Election Commission says the voter-roll revision is intended to ensure accurate lists. The commission and the BJP deny opposition allegations that the exercise is being manipulated to benefit the ruling party.
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Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 4 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 174 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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