Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke arrived in Kochi, Kerala, on Saturday, November 7, to participate in a protest against the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Speaking to reporters after arriving at Cochin International Airport, Dipke said his party’s campaign would continue until India had an independent and impartial electoral system.
Alleging that elections under Kumar’s leadership could not be trusted, he accused the Election Commission of favouring one political party, although these claims remain allegations. The protest, titled ‘Jantar Mantar at Kochi’, was organised by the CJP and included a march from Marine Drive to Rajendra Maidan, followed by a public meeting. Actor Prakash Raj and other party representatives were also expected to participate. The demonstration marked another phase of the party’s campaign following the detention and arrest of its leaders during protests in Delhi last month.
‘Fight Will Continue’
Speaking after reaching Kochi, Dipke said the campaign was not merely about opposing an electoral exercise but about ensuring public confidence in India’s democratic institutions. “The fight against Gyanesh Kumar will continue until we get an independent and impartial election system in India. That is very necessary because, under Gyanesh Kumar, elections cannot be trusted. They are being rigged only to help one party, and we have seen plenty of examples of that,” he alleged.
He did not identify specific examples in the remarks reported after his arrival. Dipke also expressed confidence that the protest would attract considerable participation from young people in Kerala. Claiming that the state had the highest number of registered CJP members, he said, “I am pretty sure the young population of Keralam, the youth of Keralam, will come out in large numbers today.”
The demonstration was scheduled to begin at 4 pm, with participants gathering at Marine Drive before proceeding towards Rajendra Maidan for a public meeting. Actor-activist Prakash Raj, CJP national secretary Afreen Nawaz and the party’s South India in-charge Vijay Reddy Mallangi were also expected to join the programme. Dipke and Prakash Raj had shared videos on social media urging people to participate. In another message ahead of the event, Dipke wrote, “It is not over until we say it is over,” reiterating his opposition to the current leadership of the Election Commission. Rediff+2
Delhi Protests And Arrests
The Kochi demonstration comes against the backdrop of a series of confrontations between the CJP and Delhi Police over the party’s attempts to organise protests in the national capital. The party had previously announced demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR exercise.
However, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar issued an order denotifying Jantar Mantar Road as a designated protest site in October, prompting the CJP to announce that it would continue its agitation elsewhere. On October 13, CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka entered the area despite the restrictions and raised the national flag. They were arrested the following day and spent seven days in judicial custody. Both were released on October 21 after furnishing written undertakings before a Special Executive Magistrate, promising to maintain peace and refrain from organising further demonstrations at Jantar Mantar while it remained denotified. They were also directed to furnish personal and surety bonds of Rs 50,000. Dipke himself was detained ahead of a proposed Tiranga March in Delhi.
The party’s leaders were subsequently questioned by the Delhi Police Crime Branch in connection with cases relating to demonstrations in the capital. The CJP has maintained that it intends to continue raising its objections to the SIR exercise despite these developments. The Kochi programme is therefore significant as an attempt to take its campaign beyond Delhi and mobilise supporters in another part of the country. The Indian Express+3
Election Commission’s Response
The controversy surrounding the SIR has also drawn attention to the Election Commission’s decision-making process. Concerns were raised following reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections to certain decisions and orders concerning the revision exercise. A report by The Indian Express stated that the two commissioners had raised objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months, including concerns about decisions allegedly taken without their knowledge or recommendations. The Election Commission, however, rejected allegations that Gyanesh Kumar had acted unilaterally.
In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court in October, the poll body maintained that all decisions relating to the SIR had been taken unanimously by its three members, including the CEC and the two Election Commissioners. It also clarified that observations, suggestions and queries raised during internal discussions did not necessarily constitute formal decisions of the Commission. The affidavit further maintained that the statutory Form 6 for enrolling new voters had not been amended, arguing that an additional declaration required during the SIR was a separate document.
These explanations form an important part of the wider debate surrounding the exercise. Meanwhile, the Kochi City Police Special Branch confirmed that CJP activists had met the Deputy Commissioner of Kochi City Police to discuss arrangements for the demonstration. Officials said adequate police personnel would be deployed to prevent any untoward incidents, while indicating that the march was expected to remain peaceful. The CJP’s demands and the Election Commission’s response highlight the continuing disagreement over the revision process, its implementation and the public confidence surrounding electoral institutions. India News+2
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Public trust in electoral institutions is essential to a healthy democracy. Concerns surrounding electoral processes deserve transparent explanations, while citizens must have the freedom to express dissent peacefully. Both institutions and protesters have a responsibility to uphold democratic values and respect the rule of law. How can greater transparency and constructive dialogue help strengthen public confidence in India’s electoral system?
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People’s protest in Keralam against Gyanesh Kumar & SIR https://t.co/WHAMYXlj42
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) November 7, 2026
