Opposition notice seeking CEC’s removal cites his public remarks against Rahul Gandhi

The notice seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar cites concerns ranging from the selection process for the post to his public confrontation with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and reports of widespread deletion of voters in two constituencies in Karnataka, an Opposition leader said on Monday (March 15, 2026).

The Opposition is yet to make the contents of the 10-page notice against Mr. Kumar public. The notice signed by 193 Opposition MPs — 130 in the Lok Sabha and 63 in the Rajya Sabha — has listed seven charges against the election panel chief, including “partisan and discriminatory conduct”, “obstruction of inquiries into electoral fraud” and “mass disenfranchisement”. The Opposition alleges that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise was used to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The notices, filed on Friday (March 13, 2026), follow months of Opposition protests over the SIR of electoral rolls. MPs have alleged repeated “manipulation” of voter lists and accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of overlooking complaints of disenfranchisement. Removal of a CEC follows the same stringent process as that of a Supreme Court or High Court judge and can be initiated only on grounds of “proven misbehaviour or incapacity”.

According to an Opposition leader, the notices draw heavily from Mr. Gandhi’s February 2025 dissent note, submitted when Mr. Kumar was selected as CEC by the three‑member committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Gandhi had termed the government’s late‑night decision to appoint the CEC “disrespectful and discourteous”, pointing out that the committee’s composition and process were under challenge in the Supreme Court. The main point of contention has been the removal of Chief Justice of India from the selection committee, which now comprises the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister, securing a majority for the government. 

The notices also cite Mr. Kumar’s public ultimatum to Mr. Gandhi at an August 2025 press conference, where the CEC demanded that he either apologise or file a signed affidavit backing his allegations of “vote theft”. Opposition parties argue that such remarks were partisan and compromised the neutrality of the office.

They have further flagged alleged voter‑roll manipulation in the two Karnataka Assembly seats, Aland and Mahadevapura. 

If both Houses admit the motion, a three‑member inquiry committee will be set up by the Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairperson. It will comprise the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge, a Chief Justice of a High Court, and a distinguished jurist. Proceedings will follow court‑like protocols, with witnesses examined and the CEC given the right to present his defence. Once the committee submits its report, Parliament will debate and vote on the motion, with Mr. Kumar entitled to defend himself during the discussion.