CJP vows jail if needed at Mumbai Shivaji Park agitation against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Synopsis
On Gandhi Jayanti, the Cockroach Janata Party escalated its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Mumbai's Shivaji Park, with leaders openly vowing to court arrest. The party alleges 13 crore voters were wrongfully removed from electoral rolls — a claim that, if it gains traction, could sharpen scrutiny of the Election Commission ahead of upcoming polls.
Key Takeaways
CJP leaders declared readiness to court arrest at a protest at Shivaji Park, Mumbai on 2 October 2026 .
The party demands the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged deletion of 13 crore voters from electoral rolls.
CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka called Kumar 'the biggest traitor in this country.' CJP co-convener Saurav Das alleged that BJP -linked workers attempted to disrupt the protest; BJP had not responded at time of publication.
The party projected attendance of 40,000–50,000 , potentially exceeding one lakh , with the event framed as the launch of a pan-India agitation.
Leaders of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Friday, 2 October declared they were 'prepared to go to jail if it can ensure accountability' for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, hours before a planned protest at Shivaji Park, Mumbai. The agitation, called by CJP chief Abhijeet Dipke, centres on demands for Kumar's resignation over allegations of 'vote theft' — the party claims 13 crore voters were wrongfully struck off electoral rolls.
What the CJP Leaders Said
CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka minced no words at a pre-protest briefing: '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. Gyanesh Kumar is the biggest traitor in this country; he is responsible for 13 crore voters being struck off the voter list. No one has committed a greater betrayal in this country so far.'
Ranka also drew a parallel to the party's earlier agitation, asserting: 'Just like the previous agitation, we won't back down till our demands are met.'
Gandhi Jayanti Chosen Deliberately
CJP co-convener Saurav Das explained the choice of Gandhi Jayanti as the launch date for what he described as a pan-India campaign. 'Today is the auspicious day of Gandhi Jayanti, and I appeal to the youth of the country to unite once again, just as they did during Jantar Mantar 1.0,' he said, urging participants to treat the gathering as 'a grand agitation aimed at saving the country.'
Das also cited the earlier mass movement against then-Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as proof of the party's mobilisation capacity, saying Mumbai had demonstrated a spirit 'on such a large scale after many years.' He alleged that workers linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had attempted to disrupt the planned protest, claiming the party had submitted photographic evidence. The BJP had not responded to those claims at the time of writing.
Police Intimation and Security Arrangements
Das confirmed that CJP had filed a formal intimation with the Mumbai Police, expressing confidence in a peaceful outcome. 'They are a professional force. I believe there will be mutual cooperation from their end as well as ours,' he said, adding that 'the protest will be held in a peaceful manner, and from here the pan-India agitation will be kicked off.'
Crowd Expectations and Enthusiasm
CJP leader Sidhant Bhardwaj noted that people had begun gathering at Shivaji Park well before the scheduled 4 pm start, drawing comparisons to the energy at the earlier Jantar Mantar protest. 'These are the people who have come to save the country. Even if they belong to different states, cities or villages, their spirit and their respect for the country remain the same,' Bhardwaj said. The party projected attendance of at least 40,000–50,000, with the possibility of crossing one lakh.
The protest marks an escalation in the CJP's campaign against the Election Commission, and signals the party's intent to sustain pressure on the electoral accountability front well beyond a single demonstration.
Point of View
Deceased, or relocated entries, and without a verified breakdown, the figure risks being weaponised beyond what the data supports. More notably, the party's invocation of the Jantar Mantar movement signals an attempt to merge student protest energy with electoral grievance politics — a coalition that, if it holds, could complicate the Election Commission's public standing ahead of state elections.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the CJP protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
The Cockroach Janata Party alleges that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is responsible for wrongfully removing 13 crore voters from electoral rolls — a claim the party describes as 'vote theft.' The protest at Shivaji Park on 2 October 2026 demands his resignation and accountability.
What is the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)?
The CJP is a political party led by chief Abhijeet Dipke, which has been running an agitation focused on electoral accountability and voter rights. The party previously organised a protest at Jantar Mantar, which it references as 'Jantar Mantar 1.0.'
What did CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka say at the protest?
Ranka said the party was 'absolutely ready to go to jail' if it could ensure accountability for CEC Gyanesh Kumar, whom he called 'the biggest traitor in this country.' He linked the jail threat directly to the alleged deletion of 13 crore voters from the electoral rolls.
Did CJP allege any interference in the Mumbai protest?
Yes. Co-convener Saurav Das claimed that BJP-linked workers had attempted to disrupt the agitation, and said the party had submitted photographic evidence of this. The BJP had not publicly responded to the allegation at the time of the report.
How large a turnout did CJP expect at Shivaji Park?
CJP leader Sidhant Bhardwaj said the party expected a minimum of 40,000–50,000 attendees, with the potential for the crowd to exceed one lakh. He noted that people had begun gathering well before the scheduled 4 pm start time.
