INDIA bloc stages symbolic impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar on six charges

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

The venue became an early point of dispute. On October 27, The Hindu reported Venugopal's allegation that permission for the October 30 programme at Ashoka Hotel had been denied after police intervention. The bloc subsequently settled on Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence.

By October 28, the opposition had announced that the event would take place at Kharge's official residence on October 30, Times now reported. The change allowed the programme to proceed despite the venue setback.

Preparations also focused on how to frame the proceedings. On October 29, The Hindu reported that the event was likely to avoid mocking Parliament. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar was due to preside, with Kharge moving the motion.

Rain forced another change. On October 30, Mint reported that the symbolic impeachment had been postponed to October 31 because of rain in Delhi.

The event went ahead on October 31. The bloc brought six charges against Kumar, according to The Indian Express. Times now reported that participants unanimously passed a symbolic motion seeking his removal.

The proceedings included testimony beyond party leaders' speeches. Voters questioned the deletion of names from electoral rolls, while student leaders and activists also spoke, The Hindu reported.

The outcome is a symbolic opposition motion seeking Kumar's removal, not a reported removal from office. The coverage describes a political event at Kharge's residence rather than a completed formal impeachment process.

The accusations remain opposition allegations. Scroll.in reported that the bloc accused Kumar of "conspiring to steal elections". The supplied coverage does not set out all six charges in detail or provide Kumar's response. India Today reported that the BJP ridiculed the mock Parliament.

The next announced step is the November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan. The Hindu reported that the impeachment programme was conceived as a precursor to that gathering, making the rally the next test of the opposition's campaign over alleged vote theft.