New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is gearing up for a bold parliamentary showdown by planning to introduce an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar during the ongoing Budget session.
The decision comes after strong criticism from the Opposition about how the Election Commission managed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in West Bengal, where the TMC claims that names were unfairly removed from the final electoral roll, which could prevent voters from participating in the upcoming assembly elections.
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has accused the BJP of systematically misusing democratic institutions and constitutional posts to advance its “anti-people ambitions”. She stated, “The BJP is systematically misusing every democratic institution and constitutional post so that it can fulfil its anti-people ambitions.” On the voter list issue, she added, “Names are being removed arbitrarily from the final voter list.”
TMC leaders, including MP Kalyan Banerjee, have accused the CEC of acting under BJP influence, allowing misuse of the poll body for partisan goals. The party is preparing the draft motion and seeking signatures from sufficient MPs (around 100 required) to table it, with verbal support from opposition allies, including Congress, after initial differences over priorities.
The TMC has also agreed to back the Opposition’s no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in the same session, securing broader backing for its CEC initiative. Uncertainty remains on whether the impeachment notice will be moved in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar recently visited Kolkata for a three-day review of election preparations, facing protests with black flags and anti-CEC slogans. This escalating confrontation highlights deepening rifts between the opposition INDIA bloc and the ruling NDA over the impartiality of electoral processes.