Historic standoff: Opposition files first-ever formal notice to oust Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar

NEW DELHI: Opposition MPs have submitted a formal notice in the Rajya Sabha demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The notice was signed by 73 opposition members led by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and TMC leader Sagarika Ghose. This document was officially handed over to the Rajya Sabha Secretary General.

The primary allegation against Gyanesh Kumar is that he has consistently demonstrated partisan bias in the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct. Opposition parties have specifically accused the Election Commission of failing to act on complaints regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation on April 18, which occurred ahead of the assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The notice highlights specific activities and administrative shortcomings occurring after March 15, 2026. This latest move by the opposition follows the rejection of similar previous notices by the presiding officers of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

This development marks the first time a formal notice has been submitted in Parliament demanding the removal of a Chief Election Commissioner. While the signatures of 50 members are legally required to initiate such a process, this notice carries the weight of 73 Rajya Sabha MPs. Signatories include representatives from the Congress, TMC, SP, DMK, Left parties, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), RJD, IUML, and various other like-minded political groups.