Opposition Weighs Impeachment Notice Against CEC Over Voter Roll Disputes

In a joint press conference, I.N.D.I.A. bloc leaders countered the CEC’s statements point by point, asserting that they would pursue all legal and parliamentary avenues. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha said, “Yesterday we were looking for our CEC; instead, we found a new BJP spokesperson.” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant echoed the charge, accusing the CEC of “behaving like a BJP spokesperson.”

The Opposition is also considering moving an impeachment motion against the CEC over his remarks targeting Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and his demand for an apology. Manoj Jha said all options, legal and parliamentary, remain open.

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ramgopal Yadav accused the Commission of double standards, pointing out that while the CEC demanded an affidavit from Rahul Gandhi, the SP had already submitted affidavits in 2022 regarding 18,000 voter deletions, but no action was taken.

Trinamul Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra said if the voter list used in the last general election was flawed, then Parliament had no legitimacy. “If the list is fraudulent, then not just the current but even past Election Commissioners should be prosecuted, and this Lok Sabha should be dissolved,” she said. She also flagged irregularities in Bihar, alleging that Block Level Officers (BLOs) arbitrarily marked 10-12 per cent of voters as “not recommended” in just two districts, which, when averaged, could mean nearly 80 lakh voters across the state.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh ridiculed the CEC’s remarks, calling him “Agyanesh Kumar.” He alleged that under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), 65 lakh voters had been removed in Bihar within a month, questioning the legitimacy of the exercise.

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said the CEC had failed to answer valid queries raised by the Opposition. “Instead of clarifying, he attacked political parties. His duty is to ensure free and fair elections, not to raise questions against the Opposition,” he said, adding that the hasty conduct of SIR without consultation raised suspicions.

Earlier on Monday, I.N.D.I.A. bloc MPs staged a protest in the Parliament complex against voter roll revisions in Bihar, shouting slogans like “vote chor, gaddi chhor” and “stop vote chori.” Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, TMC, DMK, Left, RJD, and SP leaders carried banners and posters demanding an end to SIR. Some SP MPs also displayed affidavits submitted by Akhilesh Yadav, alleging voter deletions targeting backward communities.

The BJP hit back, with MP Sambit Patra accusing the Opposition of undermining constitutional institutions for political gain. “Not only the EC, but every institution has been attacked by the Congress family and its allies. These are the same people who questioned the Supreme Court, insulted Army chiefs, and sought proof of surgical strikes. Their only agenda is appeasement and protecting infiltrators,” he said.