In a first, opposition parties are set to move a notice seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, sources said on Monday.
According to the sources, the draft of the notice has already been prepared and is likely to be submitted later this week.
A senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) parliamentarian involved in drafting the notice said the effort had been a collective exercise by several opposition parties.
“The drafting and planning has truly been a team effort by all like-minded parties. The execution in both Houses will also be full teamwork,” the TMC leader stated.
The leader also alleged that the chief election commissioner had “totally degraded the great seat he occupies”.
Sources from the Congress said the party would support the notice, while other parties of the opposition INDIA bloc have also backed the move.
Opposition MPs are expected to begin collecting signatures from members of both Houses of Parliament before submitting the notice.
Under parliamentary rules, a motion for the removal of the CEC requires the support of at least 100 members of the Lok Sabha or 50 members of the Rajya Sabha to be admitted.
Also read: TMC, CEC Gyanesh Kumar clash over voter list row
The process for removing the chief election commissioner is similar to the procedure followed for the removal of a Supreme Court or high court judge. A CEC can be removed only on grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity.
The motion can be introduced in either House of Parliament. For it to pass, it must secure a special majority, a majority of the total membership of the House as well as a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting.
According to the law governing the appointment of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners, the CEC cannot be removed from office except in the same manner and on the same grounds as a judge of the Supreme Court.
The law also states that election commissioners can be removed only on the recommendation of the chief election commissioner.
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee had recently supported the idea of bringing an impeachment motion against the CEC if it was initiated by opposition parties.
Banerjee is currently holding an indefinite dharna in Delhi over the deletion of names during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
Follow us
