LED by the Congress party, the Opposition camp in the country is playing a dangerous game with terrible long-term ramifications for the country and its democratic, pluralistic belief system. It has planned a “public impeachment” of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Mr. Gyanesh Kumar. This may be considered as one of the most bitter steps the Opposition is planning to take after a stark realisation that it cannot bring about the impeachment of the CEC through legitimate parliamentary procedure. By making a mockery of the impeachment process in this manner, the Opposition in general and Congress party in particular is playing a really dangerous game to incite people against constitutionally-established public institutions. They will serve no other purpose than adding an anarchical element to the atmosphere -- a true disservice to democratic spirit.

 

It is common knowledge that no constitutional authority can be removed by such nautanki -- and the Congress and the Opposition also know this fact (as does a street urchin). Despite this, they are holding this churlish activity of “public impeachment” of the CEC and also are holding a mega rally demanding the ouster of Mr. Gyanesh Kumar. It is shocking to see that former Lok Sabha Speaker Mrs. Meira Kumar is going to chair the so-called public impeachment. In fact, as former Speaker of the Lok Sabha, one of the top-five constitutional ranks in the country, Mrs. Meira Kumar should never have agreed to participate in such a stupid activity. Obviously, political cheapness has blinded the woman’s common sense and actual knowledge of procedures.

 

The latest round of legislative council elections to 28 seats across four States has demonstrated clearly that the Opposition’s insistence upon paper ballot for elections has no logic and substance. Though these elections were conducted with paper ballots, the Congress party could win only one seat. This should come as an eye-opening lesson for not just the Congress but also for the entire Opposition camp. Some Opposition parties who could managed to win a few of the 28 seats might have realised that the insistence upon paper ballots has no logic. The Congress party, however, has refused to see sense in the development is insisting that its ‘Vote Chori’ protests would continue as part of its public awakening effort. It is obvious that nothing of these will ever help the Opposition to consolidate its position in popular mind. Yet, clueless as they, the Opposition leaders are blindly following a line whose end they actually should have known from their long experience in political affairs. Yet, they refuse to acknowledge that they are wrong and have no wisdom to comprehend facts as they are.

 

The nautanki of “public impeachment” of the CEC is also part of that kind of blindness that has afflicted the Opposition leadership. This blindness to reality is a serious psychological sickness -- highlighted so well in classic literature as well as real episodes from long human history. People in high positions afflicted with such a sickness often become causes of distress to the people in general in the long run. They also become victims of public ire when their madness continues in a brazen manner. The leaders of India’s Opposition camp are presenting themselves to such serious risks. They have been losing elections after elections in the past 12 years with no logical response to the systematic organisational work by the BJP (which is already the world’s biggest political party). The nautanki of “public impeachment” of the CEC will only add to the Opposition’s distress in the short as well as long run. Of course, nobody can stop them from their stupid decisions. Their march of madness will certainly get a stiff response through popular vote in the elections in the coming future. They might have succeeded in 2024 general elections to certain extent by a false narrative which the Government could not counter effectively. This time, a repeat of that cannot be expected as the Government, too, has become wiser with experience.