The Cockroach Janta Party will begin its nationwide protest today seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ will commence from Mumbai.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is all geared up to launch its nationwide protest movement today, after its deadline for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign passed without him stepping down. The protest campaign will begin in Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti, with the CJP announcing a ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ over its demands regarding the Election Commission and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The group had earlier issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding Kumar’s resignation and warned that it would take its agitation to cities across the country if he did not step down.
The CJP has put forward three broad sets of demands. These include Kumar’s resignation and initiation of criminal proceedings against him, a freeze on the SIR exercise and restoration of the January 2025 voter list, as well as repeal of the 2023 law governing the appointment of election commissioners and reforms to the Election Commission.
The group has also called for an independent inquiry into decisions taken during the SIR process and sought the preservation of related records. The demands come amid controversy over reported objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over aspects of electoral-roll management. The Election Commission, however, has maintained that its decisions were taken unanimously and that such internal discussions are part of its functioning.
CJP’s ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ to commence today
In Mumbai, the CJP plans to hold its ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ despite Mumbai Police denying permission for the proposed gathering at Shivaji Park. The police had cited concerns including traffic congestion, noise pollution and disruption to movement around nearby hospitals.
While addressing a press conference earlier, Dipke clarified that the outfit will continue with its planned venue — Shivaji Park in Mumbai — for its October 2 protest.
