BJP accuses Opposition of using CJP protest to pressure ECI
Synopsis
The BJP has mobilised leaders from Bihar and West Bengal to publicly dismiss the CJP's protest at Jantar Mantar as an Opposition ploy to pressure the Election Commission over voter roll deletions — while simultaneously citing Supreme Court remarks and train cancellations as evidence of the agitation's real-world disruption.
Key Takeaways
BJP accused the CJP of staging a protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 10 October 2026 against CEC Gyanesh Kumar .
West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya called the agitation 'a betrayal of the people's mandate.' Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi alleged the Congress and Opposition were using the protest to pressure the Election Commission of India .
Bihar Minister Mithilesh Tiwari cited Supreme Court observations and apologised to passengers for train cancellations caused by the protest.
The CJP protest centred on allegations of voter deletions during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, 10 October accused the Congress Janata Party (CJP) of staging a protest that runs counter to public interest, alleging that Opposition parties were attempting to pressure the Election Commission of India (ECI) through the agitation at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. The protest was directed against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and centred on allegations of voter deletions during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged 'vote theft'.
BJP Leaders Condemn the Agitation
West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya sharply criticised the protest, accusing participants of disrespecting the public and undermining the people's democratic mandate. 'They are insulting the people. The movement taking place today is against the people, and the public is being humiliated. This is a betrayal of the people's mandate, and this cannot be allowed to continue,' he said.
Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi further alleged that the Congress and other Opposition parties were using the CJP's protest as a vehicle to influence the Election Commission. 'The Congress and Opposition parties are trying to pressure the Election Commission through the CJP's agitation. The country is watching. When the party first launched its agitation, students thought it was raising issues concerning their interests, but its true intentions have now been exposed before the people. The protest will have no impact. Security has been tightened in Delhi to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of ordinary citizens,' Saraogi said.
Bihar Minister Cites Supreme Court Remarks
Bihar Minister Mithilesh Tiwari invoked the Supreme Court's observations regarding the protest, saying the administration was responding in accordance with the Chief Justice of India's directions. 'The Chief Justice of India has given a clear indication to our administration, and officials are taking precautions accordingly. Every word of the Chief Justice is valuable to our government and its officials. So, do not worry. The government is handling every situation with great sensitivity,' Tiwari said.
Tiwari also issued an apology to passengers affected by the cancellation of trains bound for Delhi due to the proposed agitation, characterising the disruption as an internal security matter.
BJP's Claims About CJP's Identity
Minister Tiwari went further, claiming the CJP was 'a new avatar of the Congress Party operating under a different identity' — an allegation that positions the protest as a politically orchestrated exercise rather than a grassroots movement. He alleged that the organisation was working for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Indian National Congress (Congress) under a changed name. These are allegations that the CJP and Opposition parties have not independently responded to in the sourced reporting.
Context and What Comes Next
This comes amid heightened political tensions over the SIR exercise and recurring Opposition allegations that the ECI has acted in a partisan manner. The BJP's coordinated response — spanning party presidents from West Bengal and Bihar, as well as a state minister — signals that the ruling party is treating the protest as a significant political challenge, even as it publicly dismisses its impact. With security tightened across Delhi, authorities are closely monitoring developments. How the ECI responds to the underlying allegations of voter roll manipulation will remain a focal point for Opposition parties in the days ahead.
Point of View
Multi-state response to what it publicly calls a 'zero-impact' protest is itself revealing — parties do not mobilise state presidents and ministers to dismiss something they genuinely consider inconsequential. The underlying dispute over the Special Intensive Revision and alleged voter deletions is a serious electoral integrity question that neither the BJP's counter-narrative nor the disruption framing actually addresses. With the Supreme Court reportedly flagging the protest and trains being cancelled, the agitation has clearly crossed from symbolic opposition into territory the government feels compelled to manage. Whether the ECI responds substantively to the voter roll allegations — or allows the political noise to subsume them — will determine the lasting significance of this episode.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar about?
The CJP held a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 10 October against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, raising allegations of voter deletions during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and alleged 'vote theft.' The agitation drew sharp condemnation from the BJP.
What did the BJP say about the protest?
The BJP accused Opposition parties of orchestrating the protest to pressure the Election Commission of India. Leaders including Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi and West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya dismissed the agitation as anti-people and said it would have no impact.
Why were trains to Delhi cancelled?
Bihar Minister Mithilesh Tiwari said trains heading towards Delhi were cancelled as a precautionary security measure in view of the CJP's proposed agitation. He apologised to affected passengers and described it as an internal security issue.
What did the Supreme Court say about the protest?
According to Bihar Minister Mithilesh Tiwari, the Supreme Court made observations regarding the CJP protest, and the administration was taking precautions in line with those remarks. The specific nature of the court's observations was not detailed in available reports.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision is an exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India to update voter rolls. Opposition parties and the CJP have alleged that the process led to large-scale deletions of voter names, a charge the BJP has rejected.
