INDIA bloc holds mock impeachment against CEC over voter list deletions

UPDATE - follow-up to Rahul Gandhi claims 2024 Lok Sabha elections 'illegal' over voter deletions: The INDIA bloc began a symbolic public impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday at the New Delhi residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar chaired the proceedings at 10 Rajaji Marg. During the event, Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that the deletion of 13.3 crore voter names undermined the 2024 Lok Sabha election, claiming this figure exceeded the 3% vote margin between the Opposition and the ruling alliance. He also accused the Home Minister of trying to block people from reaching Delhi for a planned rally, a claim the BJP rejected as a lie. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge listed six specific charges against the CEC, accusing him of facilitating vote theft, deleting 13.2 crore voter names, changing Form 6 without parliamentary oversight, seizing electoral rolls through ECINET, shutting out other Election Commissioners, and acting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Kharge demanded the CEC's removal and trial for treason, stating the alliance fought for genuine voters rather than infiltrators. TMC MP Mahua Moitra claimed 71% of deleted voters in West Bengal were Muslims and 51% were women, while party colleague Saugata Roy said the Opposition had used legal channels to submit an impeachment notice but faced denial in Parliament. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal alleged the Opposition had been blocked from institutional hearings for 12 years. Student activist Neha Bora and leaders including Renuka Chowdhury, Shashi Tharoor, and Tejashwi Yadav also spoke at the event.

Reactions

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad criticized the mock Parliament program for ridiculing constitutional institutions, claimed Jawaharlal Nehru came to power through vote theft, and challenged Rahul Gandhi to resign. BJP MP Sambit Patra defended the voter registration process and the SIR row, explaining ASDD categories and asserting that only Indian citizens should vote while urging missing voters to submit Form 6. Meanwhile, Delhi Police announced traffic restrictions and diversions across Central Delhi from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday ahead of the INDIA bloc's scheduled rally at Ramlila Maidan, where former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived to participate.

Context

Impeaching a Chief Election Commissioner is a rare constitutional process that requires strict parliamentary procedures and majorities in both Houses of Parliament. Symbolic mock trials or public forums are often used by political oppositions to amplify institutional grievances when formal legislative avenues are stalled or denied.