The Cockroach Janta Party has announced its support for the INDIA bloc's planned rally on 1 November in New Delhi, joining the opposition's campaign against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party's endorsement adds to a growing list of smaller outfits aligning with the opposition's demand for accountability from the Election Commission of India (ECI).

What the Party Said

Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, in a post on social media platform X, stated that the Cockroach Janta Party was extending its support to the INDIA bloc's 1 November rally. The party argued that the fundamental principle of democracy is that people choose their government — not the other way around. It alleged that the SIR exercise had raised serious concerns about the removal of eligible voters from electoral rolls.

Invoking the vision of Dr B R Ambedkar and other Constitution makers, the party underlined that every adult citizen — irrespective of caste, religion, gender, education, or economic background — holds an equal right to vote. It recalled that leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru and Ambedkar had placed their faith in ordinary citizens when framing the Constitution, believing democracy could succeed only when every citizen had an equal say.

Concerns Over the SIR Process

The party expressed concern that rather than making it easier for citizens to exercise their franchise, the SIR process had generated fears of exclusion among eligible voters. It asserted that the Election Commission's core responsibility is to protect every eligible citizen's voting right — not create obstacles to it. The Cockroach Janta Party declared it would support all organisations fighting for free and fair elections across the country.

The INDIA Bloc's November 1 Programme

The INDIA bloc has announced a series of programmes around 1 November, including a mock parliamentary session and a large rally at Ramleela Maidan in Delhi. The opposition intends to use the event to publicly demand that the Election Commission answer questions about the SIR exercise and its potential impact on voter eligibility.

Dipke positioned his party's support as an act of prioritising national interest over partisan considerations. Though the Cockroach Janta Party holds limited organisational presence and does not command significant electoral strength, its public endorsement reflects the broader coalition the opposition is attempting to build ahead of the rally.

Government's Response

The ruling side has dismissed such demands as politically motivated, maintaining that the Election Commission functions independently and without interference. The ECI has not issued a formal response to the specific allegations raised by the INDIA bloc or the smaller parties backing the protest.

As 1 November approaches, the opposition is seeking to convert public dissatisfaction over electoral roll concerns into a visible show of strength in the national capital — a test of whether the issue resonates beyond core opposition constituencies.