New Delhi: In a major political development, 193 Members of Parliament from opposition parties have submitted a formal notice seeking the removal of Gyanesh Kumar, alleging partisan conduct and raising concerns about the neutrality of the country’s electoral watchdog.

According to parliamentary sources, the notice carries the signatures of 130 MPs from the Lok Sabha and 63 MPs from the Rajya Sabha, surpassing the minimum requirement needed to initiate proceedings for the removal of a Chief Election Commissioner under parliamentary rules.

Opposition leaders have accused the Election Commission of India of acting in a manner that they claim has weakened public confidence in the electoral process. They allege that certain decisions taken under Kumar’s leadership appeared to favour the ruling establishment, prompting demands for accountability and transparency.

Leaders from several opposition parties, including members associated with the broader opposition alliance, supported the move. Some MPs from other non-government parties also endorsed the notice, saying that constitutional institutions must remain strictly impartial in order to safeguard the democratic process.

Under India’s constitutional provisions, the removal of a Chief Election Commissioner follows a procedure similar to that for removing a judge of the Supreme Court. The motion must first be examined and admitted by the presiding officer of the concerned House of Parliament after verifying the required number of signatures. If admitted, the matter can proceed to further parliamentary scrutiny and debate.

Political observers say the development may lead to a heated discussion in Parliament regarding the independence and functioning of key democratic institutions.

Gyanesh Kumar, a former Indian Administrative Service officer, assumed office as the Chief Election Commissioner in 2025 after serving in several senior positions in the central government and within the Election Commission.

The move by opposition MPs is being viewed as a rare and significant step in India’s parliamentary history, and further developments will depend on whether the notice is formally admitted and taken up for discussion in Parliament.