Indian Opposition Gathers Signatures to Remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Opposition lawmakers in India have gathered signatures from over 190 members of Parliament to initiate a motion seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, marking the first such effort in the country's history. The notices, signed by approximately 130 members of the Lok Sabha and 63 members of the Rajya Sabha, are expected to be submitted in both houses as early as Thursday, according to parliamentary sources.

The move, led by members of the INDIA alliance of opposition parties, stems from allegations of partisan and discriminatory conduct by Kumar during his tenure. Sources familiar with the notices said they outline seven specific charges, including deliberate obstruction of investigations into electoral fraud and the disenfranchisement of genuine voters. Opposition leaders have particularly criticized the Election Commission's ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise, which they claim has led to the wrongful deletion of voter names, especially in West Bengal. Trinamool Congress leader and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has publicly accused the commission of removing legitimate voters from rolls, exacerbating concerns over electoral integrity in the...