Cockroach Janta Party to Protest Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar in Mumbai

The founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Abhijeet Dipke, announced on October 1, 2026, that the group plans to hold a protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on October 2. The protesters are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and criminal charges against him. They also want the voter list update process (SIR roll) to be stopped and made transparent with public involvement.

The CJP will continue its protests in six other cities, ending at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi by the end of October. Dipke criticized Gyanesh Kumar, calling him a puppet of political leaders and claiming that 13 crore voters were removed from the list since 2024. He accused Kumar of helping Prime Minister Narendra Modi win the 2024 election unfairly.

Dipke also raised concerns about electronic voting machines (EVMs), saying they can be hacked, and demanded a shift to paper ballots. He threatened that if Kumar does not resign, protesters may demand Modi’s resignation as well.

In response to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ threat of police action, Dipke said he was ready for three months in custody. He also criticized the Mumbai police for denying protest permits and questioned why his group couldn’t protest at Shivaji Park instead of the designated Azad Maidan.

Dipke defended his party against claims of being linked to other political groups, calling it unfair. He also spoke out about education inequality, highlighting the struggles faced by students from tribal areas in institutions like IIT Bombay.

The CJP’s actions aim to draw attention to what they see as flaws in India’s electoral system and democracy.