New Delhi, Apr 24: In a renewed political escalation, several opposition parties on Friday submitted a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, according to parliamentary sources. The move comes amid continuing accusations of partiality in the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct during the ongoing election season.
The latest notice raises concerns over what the opposition describes as a “continued partisan asymmetry” in handling violations of the Model Code. Leaders allege that the Election Commission has failed to act on multiple complaints, particularly those linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s televised address to the nation on April 18, delivered just days ahead of crucial assembly elections.
According to the document submitted in the Upper House, no official communication—such as advisories or show-cause notices has been issued by the poll body in response to the complaints filed by opposition parties. The absence of any public clarification or visible action has further intensified concerns among political stakeholders.
The notice was formally submitted to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat by senior leaders including Jairam Ramesh and Sagarika Ghose. Sources confirmed that the proposal has garnered the support of 73 Members of Parliament, comfortably exceeding the minimum requirement of 50 signatures needed to initiate such a motion.
A wide coalition of opposition parties has backed the initiative, including the Indian National Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK, Left parties, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), RJD, and IUML, along with several other like-minded groups. This collective action reflects a growing consensus within the opposition bloc over the need to question the functioning of the Election Commission.
This development follows the rejection of earlier notices submitted in both Houses of Parliament. At that time, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan had dismissed the proposals. Their rulings stated that even if the allegations were taken at face value, they did not satisfy the stringent constitutional standard of “misbehaviour” required for the removal of a Chief Election Commissioner.
The earlier attempt had marked an unprecedented moment in parliamentary proceedings, being the first instance where a formal motion was introduced to remove a sitting CEC. The opposition had then accused Kumar of failing to uphold institutional independence and alleged undue influence from the executive branch.
Despite the setback, opposition leaders appear determined to pursue the matter, framing it as a larger issue concerning electoral integrity and democratic accountability. The renewed notice signals that the debate over the autonomy and functioning of the Election Commission is far from over, with potential implications for both parliamentary proceedings and the broader political landscape.