Opposition Holds Public Impeachment of India's Election Chief

Opposition leaders held a symbolic public impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in New Delhi. Rahul Gandhi said it was absurd that the opposition had to meet in a private garden because formal parliamentary mechanisms were blocked.

The three-hour meeting was attended by opposition leaders from 21 political parties, along with MPs and members of civil society. The event was modeled on parliamentary impeachment proceedings and took place a day before a planned Congress-led rally at Ramlila Maidan.

“This political weapon is going to give justice to the people of India. This is our sacred duty to the Constitution and to the people of India.”

Gandhi claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha election was illegal and accused the Election Commission of voter list manipulation. He warned that a new political weapon could prove very dangerous for the BJP and those involved in vote theft.

Kharge moved the resolution to remove the CEC at the start of the proceedings. Gandhi backed the resolution, stating that the opposition would not allow an assault on democratic institutions and the Constitution.

The BJP dismissed the mock trial as unconstitutional political drama. Gandhi asserted that the public square, even a garden, becomes the court when Parliament and courts are closed to questions about electoral integrity.