Abhijeet Dipke announces October 2 protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park despite police denial of permission; party seeks criminal action and electoral reforms.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, on Thursday demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, alleging concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the integrity of electoral processes. Addressing a press conference at the Mumbai Press Club, Dipke announced a series of protests, beginning in Mumbai on October 2, with demonstrations planned in several states if the CEC does not step down.
The party plans to launch its agitation with a protest at Shivaji Park in Dadar on Gandhi Jayanti. However, the Mumbai Police has denied permission for the gathering, prompting the CJP to announce a ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ (mass voluntary arrest campaign) as part of its proposed protest.
Dipke said the agitation would continue until Kumar resigned. He also demanded that a criminal case be registered against the CEC, alleging that the Election Commission needed greater accountability and transparency in its functioning. “We will continue our protests until Gyanesh Kumar resigns,” Dipke said, reiterating the party’s position that the CEC should be held accountable for the concerns raised over the electoral process.
The CJP has also announced plans to expand its agitation beyond Maharashtra. Dipke said protests would be organised in Goa, Karnataka, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. If Kumar does not resign, the party intends to hold a demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar from the end of October.
Apart from seeking the CEC’s resignation, the party has raised demands concerning electoral rolls and the appointment of election commissioners. Dipke called for the 2025 electoral roll to be frozen, arguing that it should not undergo further changes. He also demanded a transparent process for appointing the next Chief Election Commissioner, with civil society participation.
The proposed agitation comes amid criticism from several Opposition parties over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the functioning of the ECI. Reports have highlighted differences among members of the three-member Election Commission, including objections reportedly recorded by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi to certain decisions and orders over a period of 10 months.
The Election Commission, however, has maintained that decisions, including those concerning the SIR, were taken unanimously by the three-member body. The poll panel has also defended the legality and procedure of its decisions.
The CJP’s protest is being organised separately from demonstrations announced by other political parties. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Shiv Sena (UBT) have also announced a protest march against the Election Commission in Mumbai on October 4.
Despite the denial of permission for its proposed gathering at Shivaji Park, the CJP has reiterated its determination to proceed with its agitation on October 2. The party has described the campaign as a nationwide movement centred on its demands for accountability in the electoral system.
Dipke said the party would continue mobilising supporters in Mumbai and other cities until its demands were addressed. The proposed protests mark the beginning of a wider campaign against the CEC, with the party maintaining that its agitation will continue until Kumar steps down.
