INDIA Bloc Holds Symbolic Impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Kharge's Residence

The INDIA bloc planned a symbolic "public impeachment" of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as part of its campaign over alleged "vote chori", or vote theft. Congress leader K.C. Venugopal said 21 parties had planned the event as a curtain raiser for a November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, according to The Hindu.

The venue became an early point of dispute. Congress alleged that permission for the October 30 programme had been denied after police intervention, The Hindu reported. After permission for the proposed Ashoka Hotel venue was denied, organisers shifted the event to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence, according to Times now.

On October 28, organisers confirmed that the programme would take place at Kharge's official residence on October 30, Times now reported.

By October 29, plans for the proceedings were taking shape. The Hindu reported that former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar would preside and Kharge would move the motion. Its report also said the format was likely to avoid mocking Parliament.

On October 30, rain in Delhi forced another change. The bloc postponed the symbolic proceedings to October 31, according to Mint, which described the event as part of the opposition campaign over alleged vote theft and the SIR exercise.

On October 31, the mock impeachment got underway at Kharge's house, NDTV Top Stories reported. Kharge levelled six allegations against Kumar during the proceedings in New Delhi, according to India News.

Kharge alleged that Kumar was running the Election Commission under the direct instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Times now reported. He also called for Kumar to face a treason trial, according to India Today. These were allegations and demands made at the opposition event, not findings of a trial.

The programme has now taken place after both a venue change and a rain delay. The coverage describes it as a symbolic or mock impeachment, not a formal removal proceeding against Kumar.

The BJP responded by targeting Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. According to NDTV Top Stories, it said he was "sitting in a Parliament of his own choice, unable to win elections in reality". The supplied coverage does not include a response from Kumar to Kharge's allegations.

The next announced event is the November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan over the "vote chori" charge. The Hindu reported that organisers had explicitly linked the symbolic impeachment to that rally. The supplied coverage does not establish any legal proceedings arising from Kharge's call for a treason trial.