The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced its protest in Mumbai on October 2 demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar and overhauling the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The announcement followed growing concerns were raised about divisions within the poll panel on issues related to the electoral roll revision. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said they would start a countrywide protest on Gandhi Jayanti from Mumbai. The group also stated later that it would conduct a “Jail Bharo Andolan” after the police in Mumbai refused permission for proceeding their planned “Jail Bharo Andolan” at Shivaji Park.
At the press conference held on September 25, Dipke and other CJP members such as Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka said that they have been demanding with regard to the Election Commission and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
What Are CJP’s Three Demands?
- This has been the first demand where he demanded the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar and the criminal proceedings against him.
- The second is the freezing the SIR process and restoring the January 25 voter list, as demanded by the organisation.
- The repeal of the 2023 Election Commissioners Act and reforms in the Election Commission is the third demand.
Under Kumar’s rule, CJP has complained that the Election Commission has been operating for the country’s opposition. Such claims made by the organization have not been proven to be true.
The Election Commission has dismissed reports of a row within its ranks. It has stated that the Commission, which includes three Election Commissioners – S S Sandhu, Vivek Joshi and Gyanesh Kumar – had taken the decisions unanimously.
It is being proposed in October after the opposition groups and civil society entities have raised issues about the SIR exercise and the poll panel’s working. CJP has announced its protests will be retained to other cities after the Mumbai protest.