Archive · 2 Oct 2026
CJP Plans Mumbai Protest, Nationwide Agitation Over CEC Resignation
The Cockroach Janta Party, led by Abhijeet Dipke, wants Gyanesh Kumar to leave his job as Chief Election Commissioner.
It also wants criminal proceedings against him.
The party plans to protest in Mumbai on October 2.
It says more protests may happen in several Indian states and later in New Delhi.
CJP is objecting to changes planned for voter lists through a process called the Special Intensive Revision.
It wants the voter list frozen or returned to an earlier version.
Reports differ over whether the party referred to the 2025 list or the 2005 list for elections.
The Election Commission says all three commissioners agreed on the relevant decisions, while Mumbai Police cited legal and practical concerns about a Shivaji Park gathering.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and criminal proceedings against him.
The party plans a “Jail Bharo Andolan” at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on October 2, although police said permission for the venue was unavailable.
CJP said protests could follow in Goa, Karnataka, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand, with a possible Jantar Mantar protest from late October.
The party wants the Special Intensive Revision halted, electoral rolls frozen or restored, and the CEC appointment process made more transparent with civil-society participation.
The Election Commission said its three commissioners unanimously approved decisions related to the revision, while CJP said it would remain independent of opposition-led protests.
- Who
- Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, CJP leaders, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Election Commission of India and Mumbai Police.
- What
- CJP announced a Mumbai protest seeking Kumar’s resignation, criminal proceedings and changes to electoral-roll and CEC appointment procedures.
- When
- The announcement was made on October 1; the Mumbai protest was planned for October 2, with further actions proposed from late October.
- Where
- The first protest was planned for Shivaji Park in Dadar, Mumbai, with possible demonstrations in several states and at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
- Why
- CJP cited concerns about the Special Intensive Revision, alleged disagreements within the Election Commission and what it described as reduced public confidence in the electoral process.
CJP and Election Commission Critics
Election Commission and Authorities
CEC resignation and criminal proceedings
CJP and Election Commission Critics
CJP says Gyanesh Kumar must resign and face criminal proceedings, arguing that the Election Commission’s functioning has undermined confidence in elections.
Election Commission and Authorities
The reports do not indicate that Kumar or the Election Commission accepted these demands or that criminal proceedings had been initiated.
Special Intensive Revision
CJP and Election Commission Critics
CJP wants the revision halted and the voter list frozen or restored to an earlier version; one report says it demanded elections using the 2005 list, while others cite the 2025 list.
Election Commission and Authorities
The Election Commission said all three commissioners unanimously approved decisions, including those related to the Special Intensive Revision.
Right to protest and Shivaji Park venue
CJP and Election Commission Critics
Dipke said denying permission would suppress CJP’s right to protest and threatened a “Jail Bharo Andolan.”
Election Commission and Authorities
Mumbai Police said it could not authorize a Shivaji Park gathering under a 2013 Bombay High Court order and cited crowd management, traffic and noise concerns.
Relationship with opposition protests
CJP and Election Commission Critics
CJP said it would remain an independent movement and would not join INDIA bloc or other political programmes, while appreciating opposition efforts.
Election Commission and Authorities
Opposition parties and groups separately planned protests against the Election Commission, including actions in Mumbai and Delhi.
- Main demand
- CJP wants Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
- Additional demand
- Dipke called for criminal proceedings against Kumar.
- Mumbai protest
- CJP planned a “Jail Bharo Andolan” at Shivaji Park in Dadar on October 2.
- Further locations
- CJP named Goa, Karnataka, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand for possible protests.
- Delhi plan
- CJP said it could protest at Jantar Mantar from the end of October if Kumar did not resign.
- Electoral-roll demands
- CJP called for the Special Intensive Revision to be halted and for the voter list to be frozen or restored to an earlier version; reports differ over references to the 2025 and 2005 lists.
- Election Commission position
- The Election Commission said its three-member commission took decisions related to the revision unanimously.
- Venue permission
- Mumbai Police said it was not empowered to authorize a Shivaji Park gathering under a 2013 Bombay High Court order and suggested an alternative venue.
Sources
‘Will protest till Gyanesh Kumar resigns’: CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke announces Goa, Bengaluru, Kolkata ‘morcha’
Cockroach Janta Party protests: Dipke warns of nationwide stir over poll chief - Telegraph India
Mumbai CJP Plans October 2 Protest Seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Resignation, Warns Of Nationwide Agitation
CEC Gyanesh Kumar must resign, says Dipke; warns of country-wide protests
