Mallikarjun Kharge said the right to vote under Article 326 of the Constitution was in “grave danger” as INDIA bloc leaders staged a symbolic “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi on Saturday.

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Kharge, the Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition, criticised the Modi government while moving the motion during a mock House sitting at his 10 Rajaji Marg residence. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar presided over the session.

Opposition leaders, MPs and civil society members attended the event and passed a resolution setting out six charges against Kumar. It alleged electoral irregularities, including the deletion of votes, and called for Kumar to face trial on treason charges. These were allegations made during the symbolic proceeding.

The protest also focused on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The bloc said the alleged actions threatened election integrity and called for accountability from the Election Commission.

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi described the gathering as a “political weapon” against people he accused of colluding to undermine voters’ choices. He said it was unprecedented for the Opposition to meet at the Rajya Sabha LoP’s residence to discuss the CEC’s impeachment, arguing that other institutions were closed to them.

Kharge’s warning put voting rights at the centre of the Opposition’s protest. The phrase “public impeachment” referred to the mock session and resolution, not a formal decision to remove Kumar from office.