Election Commission of India meet turns tense; observer removed after clash with CEC Gyanesh Kumar

A high-level election review meeting convened by the Election Commission of India on Wednesday turned tense after a senior election observer openly challenged Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, leading to his removal.

During the virtual meeting, Anurag Yadav, general observer for Cooch Behar South, objected to remarks made by the CEC. The exchange escalated when Kumar reportedly told him to “go back home,” prompting Yadav to respond that he could not be spoken to in that manner, citing his 25 years of service.

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Yadav, a principal secretary-ranked officer with the Uttar Pradesh government, was removed from his post as general observer shortly after the exchange.

However, sources within the EC said the action was not due to the confrontation but stemmed from “professional incompetence.” During the meeting, Yadav was reportedly unable to provide accurate details on basic questions such as the number of polling booths in his constituency, drawing criticism from the CEC.

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A senior EC official said an observer is expected to be the “eyes and ears” of the Commission, and failure to verify key ground-level details raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

The meeting also discussed vulnerable polling booths in Cooch Behar, with West Bengal CEO Manoj Agarwal suggesting the possibility of imposing prohibitory orders in such areas.

(With inputs from TOI)