Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Memes and Music Fuel Mumbai Protest Seeking CEC Resignation
Young people protested in Mumbai against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
They wanted him to resign.
They used funny posters, movie references, songs and slogans to share their message.
Actors, filmmakers, a musician and Tushar Gandhi also attended.
The protest took place on October 2, Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.
Police put up barricades around Shivaji Park and added security near Dadar station.
A similar protest in Delhi included slogans and some detentions.
The protest followed reports that two election commissioners had objected to some electoral-roll decisions.
The Election Commission said its three members had agreed unanimously on the decisions.
Young protesters from the Cockroach Janta Party and student groups gathered at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park to demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
Placards, memes, film references, tricolours, music and chants such as “Chale Jao” and “Gyanesh BRO, JUST RESIGN” shaped the demonstration.
Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Vishal Bhardwaj, Hansal Mehta, Vishal Dadlani and Tushar Gandhi joined the Mumbai protest.
Mumbai police barricaded the area and restricted traffic, while additional railway-security personnel were deployed at Dadar station.
The protest followed reports of objections by Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over electoral-roll revision decisions; the Election Commission said all decisions were unanimous.
- Who
- The Cockroach Janta Party, young protesters, student groups and public figures including Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Tushar Gandhi.
- What
- Protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
- When
- Friday, October 2; the Mumbai demonstration was scheduled for 4 pm, with protesters arriving earlier.
- Where
- Primarily Shivaji Park in Mumbai, with additional security at Dadar railway station; a related demonstration took place in Delhi.
- Why
- The protests followed reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected to decisions and orders concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Protesters’ allegations
Election Commission’s response
Electoral-roll decisions
Protesters’ allegations
Protesters acted after reports that Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi objected to decisions and orders related to the Special Intensive Revision, including some reportedly issued without their knowledge.
Election Commission’s response
The Election Commission said its three-member commission took all decisions, including those related to the Special Intensive Revision, unanimously.
Chief election commissioner’s leadership
Protesters’ allegations
The Cockroach Janta Party and its supporters called for Gyanesh Kumar’s immediate resignation through slogans, placards and satire.
Election Commission’s response
The Election Commission’s unanimity statement challenged the basis of the criticism concerning the commission’s decision-making.
- Organising group
- Cockroach Janta Party
- Main demand
- The resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
- Main venue
- Shivaji Park, Mumbai
- Scheduled time
- 4 pm
- Security response
- Barricades and traffic restrictions near Shivaji Park, plus extra personnel at Dadar station
- Reported objections
- Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi reportedly objected at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision
- Election Commission response
- The three-member commission said all decisions, including those concerning the revision, were unanimous
