The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will launch its protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on October 2, with founder Abhijeet Dipke reiterating his demand for Kumar’s resignation and criminal proceedings against him. The Mumbai protest is planned at Shivaji Park at 4 pm near Gate No. 6, although Mumbai Police has denied permission for the gathering at the venue. Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Dipke said the CJP's agitation would continue until Kumar resigns. He also demanded that the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls be frozen and that elections be conducted using the 2025 electoral rolls.
The CJP has also called for an independent mechanism to select a new Chief Election Commissioner and greater transparency in the appointment process, including participation from civil society.
CJP Announces October 2 Protest at Shivaji Park
The CJP had initially announced that its nationwide protest campaign would begin from Mumbai on October 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti. The organisation has now announced Shivaji Park as the venue and 4 pm as the time, with Gate No. 6 identified as the gathering point. However, the proposed protest has run into a permission dispute with Mumbai Police.
According to The Indian Express, police denied permission for the protest at Shivaji Park, citing a 2013 Bombay High Court order restricting the use of the ground for purposes other than sports. Police also cited the lack of required BMC permission and concerns over noise and traffic in the residential and silence-zone area, including possible disruption to access to hospitals. Dipke subsequently said the CJP would proceed with a "Jail Bharo Andolan" if authorities attempted to stop the protest.
Why Is CJP Demanding Gyanesh Kumar's Resignation?
Dipke's demands centre on the Election Commission's handling of electoral-roll revisions and the SIR exercise. At the press conference, he said Kumar "must resign" and should face criminal proceedings. The CJP has also said it wants the SIR process frozen and the 2025 electoral rolls used for elections. The organisation has further called for a new mechanism for appointing the CEC, with Dipke arguing that the process should be transparent and involve civil society.
What Is the SIR Controversy?
The Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, involves the verification and revision of electoral rolls. The process has become a major point of contention, with critics raising questions over the deletion or exclusion of voters and the procedures used to verify electoral records. The CJP has alleged that the SIR exercise resulted in the exclusion of more than 13 crore names from draft electoral rolls across 30 states and Union Territories. The organisation has used these claims as part of its campaign against the Election Commission and has demanded that the revision process be frozen.
The Election Commission, meanwhile, has defended its procedures and said its decisions are taken within the legal and institutional framework governing elections.
What Did The Indian Express Report Find?
The CJP's campaign also followed an investigation published by The Indian Express that reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on 14 occasions over a 10-month period concerning decisions related to electoral-roll changes. The reported objections covered issues including the addition, deletion and restoration of voters, changes involving voter-registration forms and aspects of the Election Commission's handling of electoral data.
The report became a key part of the CJP's argument for demanding Kumar's resignation and greater transparency within the Election Commission. However, the existence of internal objections does not by itself establish that electoral laws were violated. The Election Commission has maintained that internal discussions and differences of opinion are part of institutional decision-making and has defended the legality of its actions.
Election Commission Orders Review of Voter-Roll Software
The controversy received further attention after the Election Commission ordered a review of its voter-roll software following the Indian Express report. Reuters reported that the ECI set up a committee involving a senior election official and an independent technology expert to examine whether the software complies with election laws and rules. The Commission also said local officials would visit voters whose records were flagged for discrepancies. The development has added to the debate over how electoral data is updated and verified during the SIR process.
CJP Plans Protests in Other States
The Mumbai protest is being positioned by the CJP as the beginning of a wider campaign. Dipke said protests would also be held in Goa, Karnataka, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. He further announced plans for a larger protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi towards the end of October. The CJP has said the campaign will continue until its demands concerning Kumar, SIR and the appointment of the next CEC are addressed. For October 2, however, the immediate issue remains the proposed gathering at Shivaji Park, where the CJP has announced its planned assembly despite the police denying permission for the venue.
