INDIA bloc to hold public impeachment of CEC at Kharge's home tomorrow

The INDIA bloc shifted its 'public impeachment' of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence after its attempts to hold the event at Ashok Hotel and Ramlila Maidan met with denial of permissions.The event will feature speeches by INDIA bloc leaders, civil society members and victims of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. (Photo: PTI)New Delhi,Oct 29, 2026 14:48 ISTThe INDIA bloc will hold a “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s official residence in New Delhi on October 30, with former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar chairing the event.The event, scheduled to begin on Friday afternoon, will feature speeches by INDIA bloc leaders, civil society members and victims of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, will move the motion, while Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will deliver the concluding address.The opposition alliance shifted the venue after its attempts to organise the programme at Ashok Hotel and Ramlila Maidan ran into permission hurdles. Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said the “INDIA janbandhan” would hold the “public impeachment” of Gyanesh Kumar at 10, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi, at 3.30 pm on October 30.In his post on X, the Congress leader accused Kumar of violating the Constitution and undermining electoral democracy. "The CEC has demonstrably violated the letter and spirit of the Constitution. He has systematically subverted the very foundations of our electoral democracy. He has, to put it bluntly, lied to the Supreme Court," Ramesh said on X."He has been the willing executioner on behalf of the Diabolical Duo whose turn will come next," Ramesh added.The Congress had earlier alleged that Ashok Hotel initially granted permission for the programme but withdrew it following police intervention.The party then planned to shift the event to Ramlila Maidan, which it said had been booked from October 25 to November 3. Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal alleged that police stopped workers from setting up infrastructure at the venue.Venugopal accused the government of attempting to “silence” criticism and alleged that the authorities were protecting Kumar. He also warned that the opposition would continue its agitation despite the hurdles.The public impeachment is part of a broader campaign by the Congress and other opposition parties seeking Kumar’s resignation over the SIR exercise and alleged electoral irregularities.The INDIA bloc had planned the event as a curtain-raiser for its November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan, which is centred on its “vote chori” allegations.- Ends