The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has reiterated that it will launch a nationwide agitation from Mumbai on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, after its deadline seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar ended on September 26.
The decision was finalised at a meeting in Delhi on Saturday, according to a CJP member. Azad Maidan is likely to be the venue, although police permission for the protest is yet to be secured.
The CJP’s demand comes amid a wider political controversy over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The organisation has alleged irregularities in the electoral process and has demanded Kumar’s resignation.
Mumbai to host October 2 protest
CJP founder and national convener Abhijeet Dipke had earlier announced that the organisation would begin its nationwide protest from Mumbai on October 2 if Kumar did not resign by September 26. The agitation is planned to subsequently spread to other cities across the country.
A CJP member said Azad Maidan is the likely venue, though the final location depends on police permission. The organisation has said it will continue seeking approval for the demonstration.
The CJP has also appealed to citizens to participate in the protest and has linked its campaign to concerns over electoral transparency and the SIR exercise.
Opposition parties plan separate protests
The CJP’s announcement comes as several Opposition parties are also planning protests over the Election Commission and the electoral-roll revision process.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray has backed the CJP’s October 2 protest. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray are planning a separate protest march in Mumbai on October 4.
The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee has also announced protests across the state on September 28, with demands including action against Kumar. Congress has decided to hold its own demonstrations rather than join the CJP-led protest.
Background to the Election Commission controversy
The CJP’s campaign follows a report by media about objections reportedly raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over certain decisions related to the revision and management of electoral rolls.
The Election Commission has rejected suggestions of an institutional breakdown and said differences of opinion and internal deliberations are normal in a multi-member constitutional body. The poll panel has maintained that its decisions were taken with the approval of all three commissioners.
The CJP, however, has alleged that the electoral process has been compromised. Its demands include Kumar’s resignation, an inquiry into decisions related to the SIR exercise and changes to the electoral rolls.
These allegations remain claims by the organisation and are not established findings of wrongdoing. The proposed October 2 protest is the latest step in the CJP’s campaign against the Election Commission.
With multiple political groups now planning separate demonstrations, Mumbai is set to see protests over the Election Commission and electoral-roll revision issues in the coming days.