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INDIA bloc holds symbolic 'public impeachment' of CEC Gyanesh Kumar today at Kharge's residence
The INDIA bloc will hold a symbolic 'public impeachment' of CEC Gyanesh Kumar at 3:30 pm on Friday at Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Delhi, after being denied other venues. It has no legal force. Jairam Ramesh says Kumar lied to the Supreme Court; a Ramlila Maidan rally follows.
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The INDIA bloc will hold a symbolic "public impeachment" of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Delhi on Friday, 30 October. The event is set for 3:30 pm at Mallikarjun Kharge's residence at 10 Rajaji Marg, according to the latest account, after the bloc was denied other venues. It is a mock proceeding with no legal effect, held as part of the opposition's campaign over the special intensive revision of the electoral rolls and what it calls vote chori, or vote theft. A rally at Ramlila Maidan follows within days.
What the event is
The proceeding is described as a mock session of Parliament, in which the bloc's leaders will go through the steps of an impeachment. It was announced by Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal, who said that the public's verdict to remove "the Vote Chor CEC Gyanesh Kumar" would be delivered loud and clear. Leaders finalised the procedure at a meeting at Kharge's residence on Thursday, 29 October, while Kharge himself was in Bengaluru. Those named as present include Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh, Venugopal and CPI(M) leader John Brittas. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said that most bloc leaders were there and that they went through all the points.
The venue has changed. An earlier announcement named Hotel Ashoka, and Jairam Ramesh later said that the bloc had been denied permission to use other venues. Kharge asked bloc parties to send their leaders and members to Delhi in full strength, and all Congress MPs were asked to attend.
What the opposition alleges
Jairam Ramesh said on X that the Chief Election Commissioner has "demonstrably violated" the letter and spirit of the Constitution and has systematically subverted the foundations of electoral democracy. He also said that Kumar had lied to the Supreme Court. The core grievance is the alleged irregularities in the special intensive revision of the rolls. Congress and other opposition parties want Kumar to resign.
The Election Commission has told the Supreme Court that its orders on the revision in June 2025, October 2025 and May 2026 were passed with the consent of all three commissioners, that notings on a file are not final decisions, and that no change was made to Form 6. The court deferred the hearing of the petitions on the matter until after Diwali. The reports of the mock impeachment do not include a statement from Kumar or the Commission.
Why it is only symbolic
A Chief Election Commissioner cannot be removed by a political party's meeting. Under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only in the manner and on the grounds on which a judge of the Supreme Court is removed, which requires a resolution passed by both Houses of Parliament with a special majority. The opposition had discussed a real impeachment motion earlier, after Kumar held a press conference attacking the opposition over the revision. The Friday event is therefore a political demonstration.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Thursday, 29 October | Bloc leaders finalise the procedure at Kharge's residence |
| Friday, 30 October, 3:30 pm | Mock impeachment at 10 Rajaji Marg |
| 1 or 2 November | Ramlila Maidan rally (reports differ on the date) |
The bloc's Dilli Chalo march is to end at Ramlila Maidan. Venugopal said at least a million people will take part, and Congress has pledged to mobilise 10 lakh. Kharge referred to 1 November in his remarks, while one report gives 2 November in its lead, and the reports do not reconcile the two. Rahul Gandhi has urged people to join and has told them not to fear the police or their lathis, and Pawan Khera has said that the protest will be peaceful. Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed security arrangements at Delhi Police headquarters when the plan was announced.
The coverage used here carries no response from the BJP or the Election Commission to the mock impeachment. The BJP has been answering the opposition's campaign in other ways, such as a music video released after Kharge's remark on the Prime Minister at a Patna event, and it is reported to be preparing a counter on the revision of the rolls.
The first question is whether the event takes place at Kharge's residence as announced and who attends from the bloc's smaller parties. The second is the size and conduct of the rally. The third is the Supreme Court's hearing after Diwali, which will look at the legal questions on the revision and on the Commission's functioning. Whatever happens on Friday, the mock impeachment does not change Kumar's position, and only a vote in Parliament could.
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