'PM Only in Mock Parliament': Himanta Biswa Sarma Slams Rahul Gandhi
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma slams the INDIA bloc's symbolic impeachment of the CEC, mocking Rahul Gandhi's 'mock' Prime Minister status.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has launched a scathing attack on the INDIA bloc, mocking their recent symbolic impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. In a sharp retort on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Sarma suggested that while Rahul Gandhi might be hailed as the Prime Minister within the confines of the opposition's "mock Parliament," Narendra Modi remains the actual Prime Minister in the real Parliament of India.
The 'Verandah' Politics
The Chief Minister's comments come in response to a symbolic program and a subsequent protest rally organized by the opposition to challenge alleged discrepancies in the electoral rolls. Sarma ridiculed the nature of these proceedings, characterizing the opposition's activities as taking place on a "verandah" rather than in a legitimate legislative setting.
He further pointed out that Congress leaders have made numerous attempts to elevate Rahul Gandhi to the office of the Prime Minister, all of which have remained unsuccessful in the actual democratic process.
The INDIA Bloc's Symbolic Impeachment
The controversy stems from a mock session held on October 31, 2026, at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Presided over by former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, the session served as a platform for the INDIA bloc to level six formal charges against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
Allegations of Voter Deletion
The primary grievance of the opposition centers on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The INDIA bloc has alleged that:
- Approximately 13.2 crore voters were deleted during the revision process.
- The Chief Election Commissioner acted under the direct influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
The Legal Reality of Impeachment
While the opposition used the mock session to voice their dissent, the legal framework for removing a Chief Election Commissioner is far more rigorous. Under Article 324(5) of the Indian Constitution, a CEC cannot be removed through symbolic gestures or protest rallies.
The process for the removal of a CEC mirrors that of a Supreme Court judge, requiring a formal motion to be passed by a special majority in Parliament. By highlighting this, the ruling dispensation underscores that the opposition's symbolic motion holds no legal weight in the actual governance of the country.