‘You will not always hide behind that institution’: Rahul Gandhi targets CEC Gyanesh Kumar at mock impeachment
The event, organised at the official residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, recreated the interiors of the Lok Sabha, complete with a Speaker’s dais.
Published: Oct 31, 2026, 07:25 PM IST
| Updated: Oct 31, 2026, 08:14 PM IST
The event, organised at the official residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, recreated the interiors of the Lok Sabha, complete with a Speaker’s dais.
The INDIA bloc on Saturday held symbolic public impeachment proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of undermining India’s democracy and demanding his removal.
Addressing the gathering, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi warned that those allegedly involved in electoral malpractice would be held accountable, saying they could not “always hide behind that institution”.
The event, organised at the official residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, recreated the interiors of the Lok Sabha, complete with a Speaker’s dais.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar presided over the mock proceedings, which began with Kharge reading out six charges against the Chief Election Commissioner and moving a resolution seeking his removal.
The INDIA bloc leaders accused Kumar of conspiring to manipulate elections, deleting 13.2 crore voters, rewriting Form 6 without parliamentary approval, taking control of electoral rolls through ECINET, excluding the other two Election Commissioners from decision-making and acting at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
2024 Lok Sabha election was ‘illegal,’ alleges Rahul Gandhi
Addressing the gathering, Rahul Gandhi questioned the Election Commission’s handling of electoral rolls and linked the alleged deletions to the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
“13.3 crore voters were deleted. That is one in every seven Indians. 15% of India’s voters were deleted. In the last Lok Sabha election, these voters supposedly voted,” he said.
Gandhi argued that the difference between the Opposition and the parties that won the election was a margin of just 3%. He alleged that the Election Commission’s actions implied that 15% of those voters should never have participated in the election.
“Which means that the Election Commission itself is stating that the 2024 Lok Sabha election is an illegal election, and the people who entered the Lok Sabha, the BJP people who entered the Lok Sabha, did so illegally,” he said.
The allegations were made during the symbolic proceedings and were not established findings of the Election Commission.
‘Gyanesh Kumar is not going to survive as CEC’
Gandhi also issued a sharp warning to the Chief Election Commissioner, saying the Opposition had sufficient evidence against him.
“Mr Gyanesh Kumar is not going to survive as the Chief Election Commissioner. We already have enough proof to make sure that this gentleman cannot survive,” he said.
He described the gathering as more than a meeting of MPs and citizens, calling it a “political weapon” aimed at Kumar, Modi, Shah and others whom he accused of colluding to undermine the people’s vote.
Gandhi said those allegedly involved would eventually have to face the country’s elected representatives, adding that immunity would not protect them indefinitely.
“Mr Modi and Mr Shah might be on top. We will deal with them, but you are their instruments, and so you are our first target,” he said.
INDIA bloc demands CEC’s removal, end to SIR
Kharge said the presence of Kumar at the helm of the Election Commission posed a threat to impartial elections, democracy and the Constitution.
“We want to save the foundation of democracy which is being threatened by the BJP,” he said, demanding that Kumar be “removed forthwith” and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls be stopped immediately.
The Congress president also called for the immediate cancellation of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, which, he alleged, provides lifelong legal protection to election commissioners.
Kharge said INDIA bloc members represented 60% of the country’s population and demanded that Kumar be tried for treason in a court of law.
As the resolution was tabled for debate, INDIA bloc members thumped their desks and raised slogans, including “Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod”.
Gandhi reiterated his support for the demand, saying Kumar should not only be removed but also face a trial for treason.
“We are not nasty or evil people, but we will protect the Constitution and the voice of our people,” he said.
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