The opposition INDIA bloc held a Delhi rally demanding the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation over the electoral roll revision, reviving questions about how a CEC can be removed under the Constitution.

BulletsIn

• The INDIA bloc held its "Vote Bachao, Desh Bachao" rally at Ramlila Maidan, Delhi, on November 1, 2026.
• The rally demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
• Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee were among the leaders present.
• The Election Commission has rejected the bias allegations and defended its SIR-related processes as being in accordance with the law.
• Congress leaders said a memorandum backed by signatures would be submitted to the President after the rally.
• Article 324(5) provides that the CEC can be removed in the same manner and on the same grounds as a Supreme Court judge, namely proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
• Section 11 of the 2023 Act on appointment and service conditions of election commissioners repeats this removal procedure.
• Other Election Commissioners can be removed only on the recommendation of the CEC.
• A removal notice needs at least 100 Lok Sabha members or 50 Rajya Sabha members, after which the Speaker or Chairman decides whether to admit it.
• Notices signed by 130 Lok Sabha and 63 Rajya Sabha MPs, submitted in March 2026, were rejected on April 6 by Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan.
• A fresh notice by 73 Rajya Sabha MPs on April 24 listed nine charges and cited Article 324(5) read with Article 124(4).
• Gyanesh Kumar, a 1988-batch Kerala-cadre IAS officer, took charge as the 26th CEC on February 19, 2025.