The Delhi Police has denied permission for the Congress-led INDIA bloc’s proposed mock impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, triggering fresh criticism from the Opposition, which has accused the government of obstructing its campaign. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said on Tuesday that permission had been denied for the programme at two proposed venues in the national capital. The Opposition has vowed to continue its campaign seeking Kumar’s removal over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The INDIA bloc had initially planned to hold a mock Parliament session and public impeachment proceeding at the Ashoka Hotel lawns on October 30. The event was intended to provide opposition parties, legal experts, civil society representatives and members of the public a platform to present their allegations against Kumar. According to Venugopal, the hotel had initially agreed to host the programme, but permission was subsequently withdrawn after police intervention. The Opposition then booked Ramlila Maidan for nine days, but the permission granted for that venue was also later withdrawn, he alleged.

Venugopal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of attempting to protect Kumar by preventing the Opposition from holding its programme. He argued that the denial of permission was not merely an administrative decision by the Delhi Police but part of a broader effort to restrict the Opposition’s campaign. Venugopal said the INDIA bloc would not abandon its plans and would announce an alternative venue. He also said around 21 political parties were expected to participate in the programme and associated mobilisation, while reiterating that the Opposition intended to proceed with its planned activities.

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The proposed mock impeachment is part of the INDIA bloc’s wider campaign against alleged electoral irregularities and its demand for Kumar’s resignation. Opposition parties have raised concerns over the SIR exercise, alleging that the revision of electoral rolls has involved irregularities and could affect voters’ rights. The controversy intensified after reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on multiple occasions to decisions concerning electoral-roll management. The Election Commission has rejected suggestions that these internal observations amounted to formal dissent, maintaining that such exchanges are part of its decision-making process.

The Opposition has previously attempted to initiate proceedings for Kumar’s removal. Earlier notices submitted by opposition MPs were rejected, while a subsequent notice in the Rajya Sabha remained pending, according to opposition leaders. Under the applicable constitutional procedure, the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner follows the same process used for removing a Supreme Court judge. The process requires the prescribed parliamentary support and a special majority for removal. A mock impeachment organised by political parties would have no formal legal effect on Kumar’s tenure, but the Opposition intends to use it to publicise its allegations and build support for its demand.

The dispute comes ahead of the INDIA bloc’s planned November 1 rally and march in Delhi against alleged “vote chori”. Congress leaders have described the mobilisation as a major effort to bring together opposition parties and supporters around concerns about electoral integrity. Venugopal said the campaign would continue despite the denial of permission and asked supporters to await the announcement of an alternative venue. The Delhi Police’s decision and the Opposition’s response have added another flashpoint to the ongoing political confrontation over the Election Commission, electoral-roll revision and the demand for the Chief Election Commissioner’s removal.

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