I.N.D.I.A. bloc puts fresh CEC removal motion on hold, shifts focus to protests and legal battle

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 1, 2026: The I.N.D.I.A. bloc is likely to put its plan for a fresh removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on hold for the time being, with Opposition leaders choosing to focus on protests and legal challenges related to the Election Commission’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The issue did not feature prominently in the bloc’s meeting on Wednesday. According to leaders familiar with the discussions, the focus was on organising ground-level programmes and pursuing legal action over allegations of electoral irregularities.

The Opposition had earlier announced plans for a fresh notice seeking Kumar’s removal following reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections to certain decisions related to the SIR exercise. A previous notice, signed by 73 MPs, remains pending in the Rajya Sabha, while an earlier notice submitted in March was rejected by the presiding authorities of both Houses.

Sources said senior lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, who attended the meeting chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, argued that filing another removal notice at this stage may not add significantly to the Opposition’s campaign.

Sibal is understood to have suggested concentrating instead on the Supreme Court proceedings concerning SIR and other alleged electoral irregularities. He also proposed that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc jointly challenge the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.

According to the sources, Sibal pointed out that seeking Kumar’s arrest would face legal hurdles because of the statutory protections available to the CEC. He suggested that the Opposition pursue a joint petition challenging the 2023 legislation.

The meeting also discussed filing complaints or FIRs against officials who do not enjoy the same statutory protection. Seema Khanna, associated with the Election Commission’s IT operations, was among the officials mentioned in the discussions. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has separately called for action against Khanna.

The decision to defer the fresh removal motion does not necessarily mean the Opposition has abandoned the issue. Leaders indicated that the focus has temporarily shifted towards public mobilisation and the legal challenges surrounding the electoral-roll revision.