Political tensions are set to intensify in Parliament as opposition parties prepare to move an impeachment notice against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The proposed action is likely to be introduced during the post-recess Budget session scheduled to begin in the second week of March.
The move comes at a time when a no-confidence notice has already been submitted against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, raising the possibility of simultaneous challenges against two key constitutional authorities.
Sources indicate that the push for impeachment of the CEC has been strongly led by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). While other opposition parties initially kept their distance, allies within the INDIA bloc now appear inclined to support the move. Observers see this as a strategic effort to strengthen opposition unity and align with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Interestingly, TMC did not sign the earlier removal notice against Speaker Birla, though it clarified that it was not opposed to the move in principle. A senior Congress leader confirmed that discussions among opposition parties are ongoing regarding the impeachment initiative.
Despite the political momentum, the ruling NDA government, which holds a comfortable majority in both Houses of Parliament, is unlikely to face immediate legislative consequences. However, mounting concurrent challenges against the Chief Election Commissioner and the Lok Sabha Speaker would be unprecedented in parliamentary history.
The demand for Kumar’s removal has gained traction among opposition and regional parties, particularly over concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in several states. Opposition leaders have alleged that the exercise could potentially disenfranchise voters and tilt the electoral balance in favor of the ruling party. The matter has also been under scrutiny in the Supreme Court.
On the Speaker’s front, opposition parties have accused Om Birla of favoring the government and restricting opposition voices during House proceedings. Tensions escalated recently after the Speaker declined to permit Rahul Gandhi to reference an unpublished book by former Army chief M. M. Naravane concerning the 2020 border standoff with China. The disagreement led to repeated disruptions in the Lok Sabha.
In response to the removal notice, Speaker Birla has chosen not to preside over proceedings until the matter is resolved.
As Parliament prepares to reconvene, the twin challenges against the CEC and the Speaker signal a sharpening political confrontation between the ruling NDA and the opposition bloc.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
