News Brief
Arzoo Yadav
Aug 18, 2025, 11:58 AM | Updated 11:58 AM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
The Opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A. on Monday (18 August) announced plans to submit a notice in Parliament seeking the impeachment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, intensifying its protests over alleged electoral roll irregularities and “vote theft.”
The decision was taken at a meeting of I.N.D.I.A. floor leaders chaired by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, a senior Opposition leader confirmed, adding that the modalities would be worked out soon, reported Deccan Herald.
The move came a day after CEC Kumar held a press conference and directly challenged Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to prove his allegations of voter list manipulation.
Kumar demanded either submit a sworn affidavit with proof or publicly apologise. "There is no third option.”
He asserted that Gandhi’s claims would be treated as baseless and invalid unless supported by evidence under oath. If an affidavit is not received within seven days, it would mean that these allegations are baseless, he declared.
Defending the Election Commission’s functioning, Kumar stressed that the poll body stands impartial and committed to protecting every citizen’s vote.
“The commission stands fearlessly like a rock with every voter,” he affirmed. He explained that any discrepancies in voter rolls can be addressed through objections filed by electors, assembly agents, or booth-level agents with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, followed by a two-tier appellate process, reported The Times Of India.
Kumar distinguished between outdated or duplicate entries and actual vote manipulation, clarifying that accuracy is maintained through Special Intensive Revision (SIR), not unilateral technological deletions. He warned that false complaints fire from the Election Commission’s shoulder would mislead voters.