Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday, 25 September warned that his outfit will launch nationwide protests beginning 2 October — Gandhi Jayanti — if Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar does not resign by Saturday. The ultimatum comes a day after the CJP issued a 48-hour resignation demand at a press conference in New Delhi.

The Ultimatum and Protest Plan

In a post on X, Dipke stated: 'If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign by tomorrow, CJP will begin its nationwide protest from Mumbai on 2 October, and take it to cities across India.' He added: 'This Gandhi Jayanti, let's pledge to save democracy.'

Addressing reporters on Thursday, Dipke had said: 'If within 48 hours Gyanesh Kumar doesn't resign, the Cockroach Janata Party will start a nationwide agitation. We won't step back till the time Gyanesh Kumar resigns.'

Why CJP Is Targeting the CEC

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has come under scrutiny following reports of internal differences over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, access to voter data, and new voter registrations, among other issues. CJP has cited these reported differences as the basis for its demands.

Dipke alleged that Kumar's tenure had distorted the democratic process. 'What did democracy mean in our country? Democracy meant that the people would choose the government; the people would decide whom they want to vote for. But ever since Gyanesh Kumar became the Chief Election Commissioner, the government has been deciding who will vote and who will not,' he said.

'You have completely turned democracy upside down. This is not democracy; this is autocracy. And the biggest criminal in this, the biggest anti-national, is Gyanesh Kumar,' Dipke remarked.

Co-Convenor Joins the Criticism

CJP co-convenor Saurav Das also spoke at Thursday's press conference, targeting the broader electoral framework. 'They have turned the country into a huge joke under the current system. This system is corrupt; this system is broken. The youth of the country is demanding change. They are saying, Change is required; fundamental change is required,' Das said.

Context and What Comes Next

This comes amid a wider debate over the functioning and independence of the Election Commission, with multiple civil society groups and political commentators raising questions about electoral roll management. Notably, the CJP's protest, if launched, would coincide with Gandhi Jayanti observances across the country — a symbolically significant date for democratic movements in India.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar has not publicly responded to the CJP's demands as of the time of this report. Whether the Saturday deadline passes without a resignation will determine the scale and spread of the agitation that follows.