Opposition leaders across parties on Saturday, 10 October voiced support for the right to peaceful protest as the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) staged a demonstration at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, against the Election Commission of India (ECI). The protest, which also demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, centred on allegations of electoral malpractice and concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

Key Demands and What Sparked the Protest

The CJP's call to gather at Jantar Mantar drew attention from political figures spanning multiple states. At the heart of the demonstration were allegations that the SIR process had allegedly disenfranchised a significant number of voters. Congress leader Husain Dalwai claimed that irregularities in the SIR process had deprived 13 crore people of their right to participate in elections, a charge the Election Commission has not formally responded to, according to available reports.

The protest also explicitly targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with demonstrators and their supporters demanding his resignation over what they described as electoral malpractice carried out through the Commission.

Opposition Leaders Speak Out

Uttar Pradesh State Congress President Aradhana Mishra Mona underscored the constitutional basis for the demonstration. 'Our Constitution gives every political party and organisation the right to protest peacefully. It is the moral responsibility of political parties and organisations to voice their opinions and hold the government accountable for its wrong policies,' she said.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma noted that the CJP's call had resonated beyond North India. 'People from across the country, not just North India but also South, East and West India, want to join the Cockroach Janata Party's call. Why do they want to come? Because they are convinced that electoral malpractice has taken place through the Election Commission, with Gyanesh Kumar's name being used as a front,' Verma said.

Security Measures and Internet Suspension Draw Criticism

Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) chief and MLC M. Kodandaram criticised what he described as disproportionate security measures around the protest site. He alleged that heavy security forces had been deployed and that Internet services had been suspended in the Jantar Mantar area, preventing people from reaching the venue.

'Today, on October 10, the Cockroach Janata Party has issued a special call to reach Jantar Mantar to protest against the Election Commission of India. They are also demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. However, heavy security forces have been deployed, and Internet services have been suspended, preventing people from reaching the Jantar Mantar area. I think this is a very big mistake,' Kodandaram said.

Notably, the reported suspension of Internet services — if confirmed — would mark an unusual step in the context of a civilian political protest in the national capital, where such measures are more commonly associated with law-and-order emergencies.

Broader Context: Electoral Integrity Under Scrutiny

This comes amid a wider political debate over the integrity of voter rolls and the conduct of revision exercises by the Election Commission. The SIR process, designed to update electoral rolls, has drawn opposition allegations of selective deletions and enrolment irregularities. Critics argue that without transparent, auditable procedures, such exercises risk undermining public trust in the electoral process.

The Election Commission and its leadership have not, according to available reports, publicly addressed the specific allegations raised at the protest. With demands for CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation now formally on the table from multiple opposition voices, the controversy is likely to intensify ahead of any upcoming state or general election cycle.