New DelhiOpposition parties are preparing to bring a resolution in Parliament to remove Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar from his post. According to sources, the draft of this proposal has been prepared and it can be submitted this week. This is the first time that opposition parties are united and taking such strong action against the Chief Election Commissioner.
A senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP said that this is entirely the result of the unity of the opposition parties. He said all like-minded parties have worked together in drafting and planning it. All parties will also work together to implement this scheme in both the houses of Parliament. The TMC leader alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner has insulted his dignified post. Congress and other parties of India Bloc have also said to support this notice.
Now the opposition MPs will collect signatures of the members of both the houses. According to rules, such a notice must be signed by at least 100 MPs from the Lok Sabha or 50 MPs from the Rajya Sabha. The process of removing the Chief Election Commissioner is similar to removing a Supreme Court or High Court judge. They can be removed only on the basis of proven misbehavior or incompetence.
This proposal can be presented in any house of the Parliament. A special majority is required to pass it. This means that a majority of the total members of the House and two-thirds majority of the members present and voting should be in favor of this proposal. According to law, the Chief Election Commissioner can be removed only on the same grounds on which a Supreme Court judge is removed.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently supported the idea during a press conference in Delhi. He had said that if the opposition brings such a proposal, he is with it. Mamata Banerjee is currently on strike in protest against the removal of names during the ‘Special Intensive Revision’ (SIR) of the voter list in Bengal.
