Indian Opposition Stages Mock Impeachment of Election Chief
Opposition parties held a symbolic impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to protest alleged voter roll manipulation by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Indian opposition parties and members of the INDIA bloc staged a symbolic impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on October 31, 2026. Held at the residence of Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi, the mock proceedings carried no legal force but served as a protest against a nationwide revision of electoral rolls. The opposition accused Kumar of treason and colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to manipulate voter lists through a Special Intensive Revision, which they claim deleted between 13.2 crore and 14 crore voters.
Opposition leaders alleged the malicious use of ERONET/ECINET software to centralize control and the illegal amendment of Form 6 to block first-time voters. Rahul Gandhi characterized the event as a political weapon, arguing that mass disenfranchisement rendered the 2024 elections illegal. The proceedings were presided over by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and preceded a youth-supported rally in the city.
The BJP dismissed the event as a drama and a mockery of democratic institutions. Home Minister Amit Shah accused the opposition of preferring to create a ruckus over formal debate, though he stated the government remained willing to discuss the voter-roll revision in a special parliamentary session. The Election Commission of India denied all allegations of manipulation, maintaining that the revision was necessary for accuracy.
