India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party has stepped up protests demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over disputed voter-roll revisions, while the Election Commission rejects allegations of wrongdoing
NEW DELHI: India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has intensified a nationwide protest campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, escalating a dispute over changes to electoral rolls ahead of future elections.
Hundreds of CJP supporters gathered in Mumbai on October 2, while student groups, activists and opposition supporters also demonstrated in New Delhi and other cities. Protesters allege that revisions to voter lists have wrongly excluded eligible voters and could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. The Election Commission and the government have denied wrongdoing.
Why protesters want the poll chief to quit
The controversy centres on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, a verification exercise that critics say has imposed documentation requirements that could leave some legitimate voters off the rolls.
Pressure increased after The Indian Express reported that two election commissioners had raised concerns internally about several decisions linked to the revision process. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has cited those reports while demanding Kumar’s resignation.
The Election Commission says the revision is intended to remove invalid entries and ensure accurate voter lists. It has also instructed officials to include eligible voters who may previously have been omitted.
Protests spread beyond Mumbai
The CJP has said demonstrations will expand to cities including Goa, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Delhi. In New Delhi, police detained several protesters during demonstrations on October 3 after some participants crossed barricades.
The movement gained national attention earlier in 2026 through protests over examination-related grievances and youth unemployment.
Impact to expect
The dispute is likely to keep India’s voter-registration process under scrutiny, with further demonstrations expected as the CJP and other groups press for changes and greater transparency.
