CJP Announces October 10 Jantar Mantar Protest, Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a fresh protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar does not resign over allegations surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke made the announcement on Friday night, hours after the group held a large demonstration at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park despite police denying permission for the gathering.

Dipke said supporters from across India would travel to Delhi for what he described as “Jantar Mantar 2.0”. He said the protest would remain peaceful and urged people supporting free and fair elections to participate.

“If Gyanesh Kumar doesn’t resign, cockroaches from across India will march to Delhi & protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10,” Dipke said in a post on X.

He added that if Delhi Police attempted to stop the protesters, “wherever they stop us will become our Jantar Mantar”.

CJP Steps Up Campaign Against CEC

CJP co-convenors Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka also announced plans for a nationwide campaign targeting the Election Commission and demanding Kumar’s resignation.

The group has alleged that the SIR exercise has resulted in the deletion of large numbers of voters from electoral rolls. The Election Commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing and maintained that its major decisions, including the SIR exercise, were taken unanimously by the full commission.

The controversy intensified after an Indian Express investigation reported disagreements within the Election Commission over aspects of the voter-roll revision process. The Election Commission has said internal discussions and differences are part of its functioning and has initiated a review of its voter-roll software.

Thousands Gather At Mumbai Protest

The October 2 demonstration at Shivaji Park drew thousands of people, according to reports, despite Mumbai Police refusing permission for the event.

Dipke addressed the gathering and said the Mumbai protest was the beginning of a wider campaign that would extend to other cities, including Delhi.

The CJP has demanded Kumar’s resignation and called for changes to the electoral-roll revision process. The group has also raised broader demands concerning election administration and voter-list safeguards.

October 10 Delhi Protest Planned

Dipke said the CJP would maintain a peaceful approach during the proposed Delhi demonstration, invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violent protest.

The announcement comes a day after protests in Delhi by AAP, Left-backed student groups and civil society organisations over the SIR controversy. Police detained hundreds of protesters who attempted to reach Jantar Mantar, where restrictions on gatherings were in force.

The CJP’s proposed October 10 demonstration is expected to bring the SIR controversy back to the centre of political and public debate in the national capital.