The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) held demonstrations in Mumbai and Delhi on Friday, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protests, centered on allegations of electoral irregularities during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, saw significant police deployment and traffic disruptions in both cities.
In Mumbai, CJP activists gathered at Shivaji Park, despite local police denying permission for the event. Heavy security, including barricades and women personnel, was stationed around the venue and Dadar station. CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka stated that the party was prepared for arrest, asserting, "If going to jail can bring back the votes of 13 crore people, and if going to jail can ensure accountability for Gyanesh Kumar, then we are absolutely ready to go to jail." CJP spokesperson Saurav Das echoed these sentiments, labeling the CEC a "traitor" and calling for public support.
Local residents of the Shivaji Park area expressed strong opposition to the protest, citing noise pollution, traffic congestion, and the proximity of schools and a hospital. Some residents alleged that previous demonstrations at the site had resulted in disorderly conduct and public inconvenience, suggesting that the party should utilize designated protest zones like Azad Maidan.
Meanwhile, in Delhi, police detained several individuals, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bharadwaj and MLA Sanjeev Jha, at Jantar Mantar. Authorities had imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in the area and issued a traffic advisory warning of diversions around Connaught Place, Parliament Street, and Tolstoy Marg. Bharadwaj defended the demonstration, stating, "Protesting is our constitutional right. Why would the government give permission for a protest against itself?"
In Latur, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke faced a separate protest from students who accused him of shifting focus away from the NEET paper leak issue. Demonstrators at Gandhi Chowk raised slogans against Dipke and damaged a poster of the party leader.
Addressing the broader allegations against the Election Commission, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the claims as a "fake narrative." He stated that the matter had been "busted" following a press conference held by the three Election Commissioners, adding that those pushing the allegations would not succeed.
