The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is set to hold a protest in Mumbai on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and greater accountability from the Election Commission of India (ECI). CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka has called upon people in Mumbai to join the demonstration, saying the group is prepared to face arrest if necessary.
The protest is planned at Shivaji Park, despite Mumbai Police stating that permission has not been granted for the gathering. The CJP has linked its demands to concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and what it describes as the removal of voters’ names. The Election Commission, however, has rejected suggestions of an institutional breakdown, maintaining that decisions, including those concerning SIR, were taken unanimously by all three commissioners.
Ranka Urges Public Participation
Speaking ahead of the proposed demonstration, Ranka has urged citizens to participate in the movement and said the organisation was willing to face imprisonment if that would help secure accountability. “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,” Ranka said in an interaction with IANS.
The figure of 13 crore relates to CJP’s claim regarding names removed during electoral-roll revisions; this remains a claim by the organisation and should not be treated as an established finding against the ECI.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has said the October 2 mobilisation will begin at Shivaji Park and is part of a wider campaign seeking Kumar’s resignation. The organisation has also demanded that criminal proceedings be initiated against the CEC, that the SIR exercise be frozen and the January 2025 voter list restored, and that the 2023 law governing the appointment of election commissioners be repealed in favour of reforms to the poll body. Dipke has said the movement will subsequently be taken to other cities and, if the demand for Kumar’s resignation is not met, to Jantar Mantar in Delhi later this month.
Shah Voices Support
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has now reached the CJP protest site in Mumbai, adding a prominent voice from the film industry to the gathering. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke shared a video with Shah from the protest, captioning it, “Am I dreaming?”. Shah had previously voiced support for the youth-led movement in July, when he condemned the alleged use of force against protesters and expressed solidarity with their demands.
Am I dreaming or what? pic.twitter.com/NAA7ZdVPjz
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) October 2, 2026
Police Cite Legal Restrictions
The proposed Mumbai protest has become a point of contention after police declined permission for the gathering at Shivaji Park. Mumbai Police said it was not empowered to grant permission for a public gathering at the venue because of a 2013 Bombay High Court order and subsequent Maharashtra Government guidelines. Police also cited concerns around traffic and noise and advised organisers to seek an alternative venue, where their request could be considered.
CJP, however, has maintained that it will proceed with its planned agitation. Dipke announced a “Jail Bharo Andolan” after the denial, framing the move as a response to what he described as an attempt to suppress citizens’ voices. Meanwhile, Ranka clarified on September 30 that, despite messages circulating about demonstrations in multiple cities, the October 2 CJP protest was scheduled only for Shivaji Park in Mumbai, with details of further city-level protests to be announced later.
The dispute comes amid a wider controversy surrounding the ECI’s functioning and the SIR exercise. An investigation by The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections on multiple occasions over 10 months regarding decisions and procedures linked to the poll panel.
The report has fuelled criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups. The ECI has pushed back against the interpretation, stating that individual views do not constitute institutional decisions and that decisions, including those relating to SIR, were taken with the approval of all three commissioners.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The right to question public institutions and demand accountability is an important part of a democracy, just as maintaining public order and respecting lawful restrictions is essential to peaceful civic life.
The concerns raised by CJP and other groups over electoral-roll revisions deserve to be examined through evidence, transparency and open institutional dialogue, while claims about voter deletions or wrongdoing should be independently verified rather than accepted or dismissed without scrutiny.
As Gandhi Jayanti reminds us of the value of non-violence, protests should remain peaceful, respectful and mindful of the wider public, while authorities should communicate their decisions clearly and ensure that legitimate civic concerns have avenues to be heard. Ultimately, democracy is strengthened when citizens can question institutions and institutions respond with transparency. How can citizens and authorities work together to ensure that concerns about elections are addressed through peaceful dialogue and greater public accountability?
Also Read: ‘Inquilab Zindabad’: Delhi Ex-CM Atishi, AAP Leaders Among 700+ Detained In Protest Against CEC
Mumbaikars!
— Ashutosh Ranka (@AshutoshRanka) October 2, 2026
Jaldi jaldi pahuch jao! pic.twitter.com/qXZxU2zIFD
