Notice for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's removal to be tabled today, 193 MPs sign

Earlier, Opposition parties accused Gyanesh Kumar of helping the ruling BJP. The accusations mounted during the time of the Special Intensive Revision of the voter lists.

In Short

• 130 MPs from Lok Sabha, 63 from Rajya Sabha signed
• Notices to be submitted in one of the House today
• Unclear which House will receive notice first

A total of 193 MPs from the Opposition INDIA alliance have signed two sets of notices, seeking the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from his post. Among the 193 MPs who have signed the notices, 130 are from the Lok Sabha, and 63 are from the Upper House, the Rajya Sabha.

The notices are set to be submitted in at least one House of Parliament on Friday. However, it is not clear in which House the MPs will submit the notice first.

"MPs have shown great enthusiasm in signing the notice, and several lawmakers came forward to sign the notice on Thursday as well, even as the requisite numbers had already been achieved," an Opposition MP, familiar with the latest development, told PTI.

According to rules, at least 100 MPs must sign a notice seeking the removal of the CEC in the Lok Sabha, and the required strength in the Rajya Sabha is 50.

If submitted, this would mark the first time that a notice has been given seeking the removal of a Chief Election Commissioner.

The notice has been signed by members from all the INDIA bloc parties, the source said. MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is no longer officially part of the bloc, have also signed the notice, another source said.

The PTI report suggested that seven charges have been listed against the CEC in the notice, ranging from "partisan and discriminatory conduct in office" to "deliberate obstruction of investigation of electoral fraud" and "mass disenfranchisement."

Earlier, Opposition parties repeatedly accused the CEC of aiding the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on several occasions. The allegations have been particularly linked to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which opposition leaders claim is aimed at benefiting the ruling party at the Centre.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the conduct of the exercise in West Bengal. Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Election Commission of deleting genuine voters during the process.

- Ends