‘One-man autocracy’ : Opposition wants CEC Gyanesh Kumar ‘impeached’ over report of 14 EC objections

Opposition parties are demanding the impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar following allegations that he has compromised the credibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The claims emerged after an Indian Express report revealed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally objected to ECI decisions 14 times in the past 10 months.

These objections covered matters such as the addition and deletion of voters, changes to Form 6, and technology used for managing electoral rolls. The two commissioners expressed concerns over unauthorized additions, mass deletions, and secret changes to voter lists, which they deemed illegal and undermining the integrity of the electoral process.

This unprecedented level of dissent, with Sandhu and Joshi raising objections four times on a single day, has led to calls for Kumar's removal from office. Opposition leaders argue that if the allegations are true, Kumar has been functioning as a one-man autocracy, making arbitrary and capricious decisions without following the established rules and procedures.

They urge the Parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings and emphasize that the Supreme Court must intervene by annulling the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Critics warn that such actions could potentially lead to the undermining of free and fair elections in India, effectively burying the democratic fabric of the nation.