The Opposition INDIA bloc escalated its confrontation with the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday, convening in the chamber of Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss moving an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The move comes amid intensifying protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar, which the opposition alleges is a mechanism for “vote theft” orchestrated in collusion with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Sources revealed that several opposition MPs, including those from Congress, RJD, TMC, DMK, and other INDIA bloc parties, expressed frustration over Kumar’s Sunday press conference, where he dismissed allegations of voter fraud as “baseless” without addressing specific concerns raised by the opposition. Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain criticized the ECI, stating, “The Election Commission is acting like a BJP spokesperson, failing to clarify anomalies like people declared dead in electoral rolls. We need an impartial CEC.” He affirmed the bloc’s readiness to use “every democratic means,” including impeachment, to ensure accountability.

The opposition’s grievances stem from claims that the SIR process in Bihar, aimed at updating voter lists, is being manipulated to disenfranchise voters, particularly from marginalized communities, ahead of the state’s assembly elections due later in 2025. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, spearheading the charge, launched his 1,300-km Voter Adhikar Yatra from Sasaram, Bihar, on Sunday, accusing the ECI of colluding with the BJP to “openly carry out vote chori.”

Gandhi highlighted inconsistencies such as duplicate voter entries and invalid addresses, citing 1,00,250 “stolen” votes in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura segment as evidence of broader electoral malfeasance. He also pointed out selective targeting, noting that while the ECI demanded an affidavit from him to substantiate his claims, no such demand was made of BJP MP Anurag Thakur, who echoed similar concerns.

Also Read: Opposition Hits Out at "Vote Theft" in Fiery Parliament Protest

In response, CEC Kumar defended the SIR process, asserting it involves 1.6 lakh Booth Level Agents from various parties to ensure transparency and correct voter list errors. He challenged Gandhi to provide a signed affidavit within seven days or apologize, warning that unverified claims insult the Constitution. Kumar emphasized that no evidence of double voting or inflated voter lists had been submitted, and the ECI remains committed to protecting every citizen’s right to vote.

The impeachment motion, requiring at least 50 signatures in the Rajya Sabha and a two-thirds majority in both Houses to succeed, faces an uphill battle due to the opposition’s lack of numbers. However, leaders view it as a symbolic protest to highlight perceived ECI bias. The bloc plans to finalize the strategy in further meetings, amid ongoing parliamentary disruptions over the issue, which have stalled the Monsoon session since July 21.

Also Read: Rahul: BJP, EC Plot to Steal Bihar