Indian opposition parties formally seek to impeach Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing bias and voter disenfranchisement, in a historic move.

Indian opposition parties have submitted a formal notice to impeach Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, marking the first such attempt in the country’s history. The move, backed by over 120 MPs in the Lok Sabha and 60 in the Rajya Sabha, alleges partisan conduct, voter disenfranchisement, and bias toward the ruling BJP, particularly during the Special Intensive Revision exercise in West Bengal. The removal process follows the same procedure as removing a Supreme Court judge, requiring a special majority in both houses and a joint inquiry committee. The CEC can only be removed on grounds of proven misbehavior or incapacity. While the BJP holds a majority, making impeachment unlikely, the action reflects deep political tensions over the Election Commission’s impartiality.