Political war over CEC Gyanesh Kumar intensifies Action will be taken as per rules: Om Birla on impeachment notice

New Delhi | 22 October 2026

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Amid talk of his resignation on the one hand and the Opposition preparing to move an impeachment motion on the other, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's statement has once again brought the entire issue to the centre of political debate. Birla made it clear that if the opposition again gives a notice of motion for removal of Gyanesh Kumar, action will be taken as per laid down constitutional procedure and rules.

The Lok Sabha Speaker on Thursday said there is a laid down procedure for the removal of election commissioners, just like the procedure under the constitutional provision is followed in the case of removal of Supreme Court judges. "In democracy everyone has the right to express their opinion. Further action will be taken as per rules after the proposal is tabled in Parliament.

Opposition's strategy in sight, Speaker cites procedure

Responding to questions on the motion against Gyanesh Kumar, Om Birla refused to jump to any conclusion at the moment. His stand was clear that no final comment could be made on the action taken on the proposal before it came up. Further decision will be taken in accordance with the relevant rules after the notice is presented in Parliament.

In the midst of this statement, the most important question is whether the opposition will again raise this issue in Parliament by giving a formal notice. If this happens, the matter will not be limited to political blame game but will also come under the purview of constitutional process and parliamentary rules.

Om Birla also spoke on the Parliament session.

On the question of prorogation of Parliament, the Lok Sabha Speaker said there is a clear procedure laid down in the Constitution in this regard and he has no direct role in it. Referring to Article 85, he said that steps are taken in accordance with the constitutional provisions laid down on the subject.

Birla, while refraining from discussing the issue in detail, reiterated that there is a clear procedure in the Constitution and action is taken accordingly.

Justice Yashwant Verma report

Meanwhile, Om Birla also gave important information on the case related to Justice Yashwant Verma. "We have received the report and a decision will be taken soon," he said. He, however, did not give any details about the findings of the report or the possible decision.

Now what will happen next?

For the time being, the next course of action on the motion against Gyanesh Kumar will depend on the stand of the opposition and the procedure followed in Parliament. It is clear from Om Birla's statement that action on any proposal will be taken only under the prescribed rules. In the coming days, it will be important to see how the opposition takes the matter forward and whether the issue is raised formally in Parliament.

Note: Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and the Opposition's motion need official confirmation before it can be considered as a finally established fact. The process of giving notice of a motion, its consideration and removal from office are different constitutional stages.