Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Assam CM Mocks CJP Ultimatum Seeking CEC Resignation
The Cockroach Janta Party asked Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign within 48 hours.
It also warned that it would organize protests across India if he did not resign.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma mocked the demand.
He said the group can raise objections but cannot force a constitutional official to resign.
Sarma said the Election Commission makes decisions together, rather than through only one person.
The disagreement is connected to a review of India’s electoral rolls.
The CJP wants the review changed and upcoming elections paused.
The Election Commission says its decisions about the review were made unanimously, though reports describe disagreements among commissioners.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma dismissed the Cockroach Janta Party’s 48-hour demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation as laughable.
Sarma said the Election Commission of India functions collectively and that the CEC cannot act independently of the other Election Commissioners.
The CJP has alleged problems with the Election Commission’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The CJP has demanded that upcoming elections be frozen and the SIR process be rolled back, while threatening nationwide protests.
The Election Commission says revision-related decisions were unanimous, although reports have cited objections from Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
- Who
- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Cockroach Janta Party, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission of India.
- What
- Sarma rejected the CJP’s 48-hour ultimatum demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and defended the Election Commission’s collective decision-making.
- When
- Sarma made the remarks on Friday, one day after the CJP issued its ultimatum.
- Where
- Guwahati, Assam; the CJP threatened protests across India.
- Why
- The dispute concerns allegations about the Election Commission’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Assam CM and Election Commission
Cockroach Janta Party
CEC resignation demand
Assam CM and Election Commission
Himanta Biswa Sarma said the 48-hour demand was laughable and that seeking the resignation of a constitutional official does not hold water.
Cockroach Janta Party
The CJP demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation within 48 hours and threatened nationwide protests if he stayed in office.
How decisions are made
Assam CM and Election Commission
Sarma said the Election Commission functions collectively and that the CEC cannot make decisions while disregarding the other commissioners.
Cockroach Janta Party
The CJP has raised allegations about the Election Commission’s functioning, amid reports of differences over decisions linked to the SIR exercise.
Electoral-roll revision and elections
Assam CM and Election Commission
The Election Commission said decisions on the revision process were taken unanimously, while Sarma defended the institution’s collective functioning.
Cockroach Janta Party
The CJP demanded that upcoming elections be frozen and that the Special Intensive Revision process be rolled back to its earlier status.
- CEC named in demand
- Gyanesh Kumar
- Ultimatum
- The CJP gave the CEC 48 hours to resign.
- Sarma’s response
- He called the demand laughable and said it had no force regarding a constitutional post.
- Election process at issue
- The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- CJP demands
- Freezing upcoming elections and rolling back the SIR process to its earlier status.
- Election Commission position
- It says decisions relating to the revision process were unanimous.
- Reported disagreements
- Media reports cited objections from Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.