NEW DELHI, Aug 18: The Opposition INDIA bloc is considering an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, escalating its standoff with the Election Commission after Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ allegation.
Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain said the party is ready to use “all democratic tools,” including impeachment, though no formal decision has been taken. “If there is a need, we will use all the weapons of democracy under the rules,” he told reporters.
The move comes after CEC Kumar demanded Rahul Gandhi either sign an affidavit or apologise for alleging large-scale voter manipulation in Karnataka, calling the charge an “insult” to the Constitution. In response, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said INDIA bloc will resist any attempt to “stifle democracy.”
Under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, a CEC can only be removed through an impeachment process similar to that of a Supreme Court judge, requiring a motion by Parliament with a 14-day notice.
The row follows Gandhi’s claim of over 1,00,000 “stolen votes” in a Karnataka constituency, sparking sharp criticism from the poll body and further protests by INDIA bloc MPs in Parliament’s Monsoon Session.
