The Process To Impeach Poll Body Chief And How Opposition Is Prepared The Trinamool Congress has initiated impeachment proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, submitting a 10-page notice citing seven key allegations. These include claims of large-scale voter name deletions in Bihar and Bengal during a voter roll revision, biased treatment of political parties, and misconduct by the CEC. This marks the first time a notice for such a motion has been filed against a Chief Election Commissioner. The notice, signed by 130 Lok Sabha and 63 Rajya Sabha members, exceeds the required thresholds for initiating the process. The impeachment motion requires a special majority in either House of Parliament, meaning at least 50% of the total membership and one-third of the members present and voting. However, the opposition currently lacks the numbers to secure this majority in either House. If the motion passes the initial scrutiny, a three-member committee will be formed to investigate the allegations. The committee must include a Supreme Court judge, a High Court chief justice, and a senior advocate or jurist. This panel will assess whether there is a "prima facie" case for impeachment. If found, the matter will proceed to both Houses for debate. The procedure for removing the CEC mirrors that of removing a Supreme Court judge, as outlined in Article 124(4) of the Constitution. This article allows removal only for proven misbehavior or incapacity. The CEC will have the right to engage legal counsel to defend against the allegations, a precedent seen in past cases like the impeachment of Justice V Ramaswami in 1993. In that instance, a separate dock was set up in the Lok Sabha for legal arguments, though Justice Ramaswami resigned before the debate concluded.#lok_sabha #trinamool_congress #rajya_sabha #supreme_court #gyanesh_kumar
Trinamool Congress members led an Opposition protest in the Lok Sabha against the Election Commission, alleging bias in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of West Bengal's electoral rolls. The protest, which took place as the Lower House convened, saw Trinamool members raise slogans and enter the well of the House, with other opposition parties joining the demonstration. The action is part of a broader strategy to challenge the Election Commission's conduct, including plans to move an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protest followed claims that the SIR process in West Bengal has resulted in 5.9 million voters being placed on an adjudication list, raising concerns about the fairness of the electoral roll revision. Trinamool members, who initially did not sign an Opposition notice for a resolution to remove the Lok Sabha Speaker, have since indicated support for the motion. They emphasized their expectation that other opposition parties will back the impeachment motion against the CEC. Trinamool MP Saugata Roy addressed media later, questioning the SIR exercise's conduct and stating that the party intends to file a notice for an impeachment motion against the CEC in the Rajya Sabha within days. The protest also led to a brief adjournment in the House, highlighting the significance of the issue in the political landscape ahead of West Bengal's elections. The move is seen as a calculated effort by Trinamool to rally opposition support and pressure the Election Commission, reflecting ongoing tensions over electoral processes in the state. The incident underscores the role of the Election Commission in shaping political dynamics, particularly in states with contested electoral reforms.#west_bengal #lok_sabha #trinamool_congress #election_commission #gyanesh_kumar
