LS speaker & RS chairman reject notice for motion to remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar | India News

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman have rejected the Opposition’s notice for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar after conducting “careful and objective assessment of all relevant aspects and issues”, a move that is bound to spark deep opposition between the ruling NDA and its opposition in their five Assembly campaigns.130 LS and 63 RS members – more than required by the rules – filed notices in their respective houses on March 13 seeking Kumar’s resignation for alleged biased and discriminatory behavior by him, particularly the SIR drive.An LS bulletin said, “After due consideration of the notice of motion and a careful and objective assessment of all relevant aspects and issues involved, the Speaker (Om Birla) in exercise of the powers conferred on him under section 3 of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, has refused to admit the said notice.”RS issued a similar bulletin on behalf of Chairman CP Radhakrishnan. While the bulletin did not specify the reason for the rejection, officials said it was a common practice.The notice signed by members of the opposition Bharat Bloc and other BJP rivals like the AAP had the necessary support – at least 100 LS and 50 RS MPs.Parliament is set to sit for three days on April 16 to pass bills related to the implementation of women’s reservation in LS and state assemblies from the 2029 general elections, and rejection of the opposition’s move against the CEC is expected to spark fresh clashes between the two parties.While Congress’ Jairam Ramesh said in a cryptic post, “We know what happened to the last RS chairman who accepted a petition moved by opposition MPs”, TMC’s Derek O’Brien said, “Ah! I told you so. Notice to remove RS MPs CEC ‘Bhanish Kumar’ rejected. Reason? No reason given. BJP is making a mockery of our great Parliament.”If the opposition parties, especially the TMC which was ahead in support of the notice, raise the issue in their election campaign to claim that constitutional institutions have been allegedly compromised under the BJP, the ruling party will flag the issue as approval of the functioning of the CEC from the presiding chair of Parliament.After the Congress led a move to file a notice for Birla’s removal, which was conceded and defeated in a voice vote in the LS, the TMC was believed to have forced the main opposition party to join it in taking similar action against Kumar.