MUMBAI — In a direct challenge to the leadership of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has issued a nation-wide call for a “Chalo Delhi” protest on October 10, demanding the immediate resignation and prosecution of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
The announcement followed a massive, unauthorized youth demonstration at Mumbai’s historic Shivaji Park, where CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke warned that failure by the poll chief to step down would trigger a “Jantar Mantar 2.0” movement driven by the nation’s youth.
Massive Youth Mobilization Defies Mumbai Police Barricades
Despite local law enforcement denying official permission for the rally, thousands of young protesters, college students, and civil society activists filled central Mumbai. Clad in symbolic attire and carrying placards reading “Gyanesh BRO, JUST RESIGN”, the crowds overwhelmed police checkpoints around Dadar under scorching afternoon heat.
Timed on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the rally melded non-violent civil disobedience with active political advocacy. It drew organizational backing from Left-backed student groups—including the Student Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students’ Federation (AISF)—alongside regional opposition support from Shiv Sena (UBT).
A notable delegation from the arts and civil society attended in solidarity, including veteran performers Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, filmmakers Vishal Bhardwaj and Hansal Mehta, music composer Vishal Dadlani, and activist Tushar Gandhi.
Core Grievances: Alleged Electoral Roll Manipulations
Addressing the assembled crowd, CJP leadership leveled detailed allegations against the election apparatus, asserting that strategic voter deletion and addition patterns severely compromised recent democratic outcomes:
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Nationwide Deletions: CJP figures claimed over 13 crore voters were removed from national electoral rolls over the past two years, significantly distorting post-2024 general election dynamics.
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Targeted Constituency Shifts: Alleged selective purges affected prominent opposition figures, including reported deletions of 40,000 voters in Delhi and nearly 1 lakh voters in key Tamil Nadu and West Bengal seats.
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State Roll Surge: Leaders pointed to a sudden addition of 40 lakh voters ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections as an unverified dynamic favoring the incumbent coalition.
“If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign, the Gen Z of the entire nation will go to Delhi,” stated Dipke. “If Delhi Police tries to stop us, wherever they stop us will become our Jantar Mantar.”
Complementing the call for resignation, CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde outlined primary demands, including:
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Criminal proceedings against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
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An immediate freeze on all 2025 electoral rolls.
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Repeal of the 2023 law governing Election Commissioner appointments, which altered selection committee compositions.
Escalation and Strategy Ahead of October 10
This marks the second major youth-driven campaign organized by the CJP in two months, following earlier nationwide demonstrations regarding national examination paper leaks. Speakers framed the current push as vital to defending multi-party democracy against proposed structural changes, such as the “One Nation, One Election” initiative.
With preparations underway for the planned march to the capital on October 10, CJP organizer Saurav Das cautioned law enforcement agencies against aggressive crowd control, reiterating that the movement will remain rooted in peaceful, non-violent resistance.
