NEW DELHI – In a significant parliamentary development, Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla have officially rejected a motion submitted by the Opposition seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
The Rejection: Key Details
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Lack of Explanation: The presiding officers of both Houses declined the notice without citing specific reasons for the rejection.
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Timeline: The notice was originally submitted by Opposition members on March 12, 2026.
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Strength of Motion: The petition carried signatures from 193 MPs across both Houses, including 63 from the Rajya Sabha and 130 from the Lok Sabha.
Context: CEC Gyanesh Kumar
The removal of a Chief Election Commissioner in India follows a rigorous process similar to that of a Supreme Court Judge, requiring a motion to be admitted by the presiding officers and subsequently passed by a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament on grounds of “proved misbehaviour or incapacity.”
The rejection comes at a time of heightened political sensitivity, with the 2026 Assembly Elections in several states currently underway or approaching. Opposition parties had moved the notice citing concerns over the independence of the poll body, a claim consistently dismissed by the government and the Election Commission.
