Keralam Assembly passes resolution seeking removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The Keralam Legislative Assembly on Monday passed a resolution seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid a controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations of eligible voters being excluded.

The resolution was moved by Chief Minister V D Satheesan and flagged concerns over the revision exercise, the alleged disenfranchisement of eligible voters and the impartiality of the Election Commission.

It called for immediate restoration of voting rights to all eligible voters who may have been wrongfully excluded from the electoral rolls.

The resolution also sought the reconstitution of the committee responsible for selecting Election Commissioners, proposing that it include the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India to safeguard the independence and credibility of the poll panel.

The move comes amid an intensifying political debate over the SIR exercise, with senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spearheading an agitation against the CEC.

In a post on X after the resolution was passed, Satheesan said the right to vote was fundamental to democracy and that constitutional rights must be protected.

"The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy. No institution can be allowed to undermine the constitutional rights of our citizens. Our stand is unequivocal. The right to vote must be protected. The Constitution must be upheld. Democracy must prevail. Keralam stands firmly for free and fair elections," he said.

The resolution described the concerns surrounding the electoral roll revision and the Election Commission's impartiality as issues that could not be ignored.