The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced an October 2 ‘Mumbai Chalo’ protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The protest was announced for 4 pm at Gate No. 6, with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke saying the group would continue its nationwide agitation until its demands are addressed. The announcement follows allegations raised by CJP over electoral roll revisions and reports by The Indian Express that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections to aspects of the poll panel’s functioning.
The Election Commission, however, has rejected suggestions of a split, maintaining that decisions relating to SIR were taken unanimously by all three commissioners.
Protest Plans Announced
CJP has said its October 2 demonstration will be held at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, with participants asked to assemble at Gate No. 6 at 4 pm. The protest is centred on the party’s demand for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and its wider concerns about the conduct of the electoral-roll revision exercise.
The announcement comes after CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke had said the organisation would begin a nationwide agitation from Mumbai if Kumar did not step down. CJP has since reiterated that its campaign will continue across the country until its demands concerning the Election Commission and electoral rolls are addressed. Earlier, Dipke had also announced a ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ after Mumbai Police denied permission for the proposed demonstration at Shivaji Park.
The latest development has added another layer to the dispute, as CJP maintains that citizens must be able to question decisions affecting voter registration and electoral rolls. However, the protest’s proposed venue has itself become contentious following the reported denial of police permission.
SIR Row Explained
The controversy centres on the Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of electoral rolls, an exercise intended to verify and update voter lists. The issue intensified after an Indian Express investigation reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections on several occasions over matters linked to voter enrolment, deletion of names, electoral data management and changes to the voter-registration process. The newspaper reported that the two commissioners had raised objections at least 14 times over a 10-month period.
The Election Commission has disputed the interpretation of these developments. It has maintained that differences in views during internal deliberations do not mean that final decisions were divided. In its clarification, the poll panel said decisions relating to SIR, including the nationwide exercise, were taken with the unanimous approval of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi.
The Commission has also announced measures concerning the handling of voter-roll discrepancies, including steps intended to make the process easier for voters who receive notices. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition challenging the functioning of the Election Commission under Kumar and questioning the legality of the nationwide SIR process. The court’s decision could provide further legal scrutiny of the issues at the centre of the current controversy.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The right to question institutions and participate in peaceful democratic protest is an important part of public life, particularly when the issue concerns electoral rolls and the ability of citizens to exercise their franchise. At the same time, allegations surrounding the SIR process should be distinguished from established facts, while the Election Commission’s responses and any findings by courts or other competent authorities should receive equal attention.
Public disagreement need not become confrontation; transparent explanations, accessible grievance mechanisms and respectful dialogue can help strengthen trust in democratic institutions. As the October 2 protest approaches, how can citizens, authorities and political groups ensure that concerns over electoral processes are debated peacefully and constructively?
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2nd October, Mumbai
— Cockroach Janta Party – CJP (@Cockroachisback) September 29, 2026
4 PM | Shivaji Park , Gate No. 6 pic.twitter.com/eb1bE6JkOh
