Opposition Parties Plan Motion Seeking Removal of Chief Election Commissioner

PTI, March 9, 2026, New Delhi : Opposition parties are set to bring a notice to move a motion seeking removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, sources said on Monday.

The draft of the notice is ready and likely to be submitted this week, according to the sources. A senior All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) Parliamentarian, who has been involved with the process of drafting the notice for moving the impeachment motion, said it was a "100 per cent team effort".

"The drafting and planning has truly been a team effort by all like-minded parties. The execution in both Houses will also be full teamwork," the TMC leader told news agency PTI. "The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has totally degraded the great seat he occupies," the TMC leader said.

Sources from the main Opposition party Indian National Congress said they would support the notice. Other INDIA bloc parties are also on board, and the notice has been drafted collectively, another source said.

Opposition MPs will now collect signatures of MPs from both Houses. As per rules, the signatures of at least 100 MPs from Lok Sabha and at least 50 MPs from Rajya Sabha are required for the notice.

The process for removing the CEC is similar to that for the removal of a Supreme Court or high court judge. Only the grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity can lead to the impeachment.

Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, at a recent press conference in Delhi, had supported the idea of bringing an impeachment motion against the CEC — if it is done by the Opposition. Mamata is currently holding an indefinite dharna against the names being deleted in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state.