Gyanesh Kumar Gets 48-Hour Resignation Ultimatum From CJP Amid SIR Controversy
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Thursday demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, giving him 48 hours to step down and warning of protests across India if he does not.
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Thursday demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, giving him 48 hours to step down and warning of protests across India if he does not. The demand comes amid a growing controversy over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and reports of differences among the poll panel’s three commissioners.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, sharply criticised Kumar and accused the Chief Election Commissioner of undermining democracy. Dipke called Kumar the “biggest anti-national” and said he should resign immediately. These are the CJP leader’s allegations and do not constitute an established finding against the CEC. Rahul Gandhi Targets Gyanesh Kumar Over SIR Row (Video).
CJP Gives Gyanesh Kumar 48-Hour Resignation Deadline
The CJP said it would launch sit-in protests in New Delhi and other parts of the country if Kumar does not resign within 48 hours. CJP co-convenor Saurav Das listed several demands, including the resignation of the CEC, criminal proceedings against Kumar and those the organisation alleges directed him, and a freeze on upcoming Assembly elections.
The organisation has also demanded that the SIR process be rolled back to the 2025 electoral roll and that SIR-related files be placed under the custody of a committee led by the Supreme Court. It further called for the repeal of the law governing the appointment of Election Commissioners.
Why Is the SIR Row Escalating?
The latest controversy follows an investigation by The Indian Express reporting that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months on decisions and procedures within the Election Commission.
According to the report, the objections covered issues including changes to Form 6 for new voters, the deletion and restoration of names during the SIR exercise and the centralisation and handling of the voter database. The findings have triggered fresh criticism of the Election Commission from several Opposition parties, with demands including Kumar’s removal, a court-monitored investigation and a halt to the SIR exercise. Who Are Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, and What Were Their 14 Objections to CEC Gyanesh Kumar?.
CJP Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation Within 48 Hours
CEC Gyanesh Kumar is the biggest Anti National in this country.
He should resign immediately. pic.twitter.com/NXx68NShPm
— Cockroach Janta Party - CJP (@Cockroachisback) September 24, 2026
Election Commission Says SIR Decisions Were Unanimous
The Election Commission has maintained that differences of opinion, written observations and internal checks are part of the functioning of a multi-member constitutional body. EC sources have said that all final decisions, including those relating to SIR, were taken unanimously with the approval of all three Election Commissioners. Former Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat has also said that decisions within the poll panel must ultimately be reached through consensus or by majority vote.
Opposition Also Targets CEC Over SIR
The CJP’s demand comes amid wider Opposition criticism of the Election Commission and the SIR exercise. The Indian Express reported that Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders have sought Kumar’s removal, an impartial investigation into the functioning of the poll panel and a pause in the SIR process.
Congress leader K C Venugopal called for Kumar’s immediate removal and a Supreme Court-monitored investigation, while SP chief Akhilesh Yadav urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the issue. TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee also called for the CEC’s removal and a court-monitored probe.
The controversy is now centred on the functioning of the Election Commission, the reported differences among its members and the manner in which electoral rolls are being revised under SIR. The Election Commission, however, has rejected the suggestion that the reported internal differences affected the unanimity of its final decisions.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 24, 2026 03:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
