Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has questioned the value of participating in upcoming elections unless Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resigns, alleging that the BJP is winning in states where it could not secure victories even during the peak of the so-called “Modi wave”.
Speaking to reporters in Pune on Monday, Dipke said he believed elections could not be considered free and fair while Kumar remained in office and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls continued.
“I feel that until Gyanesh Kumar resigns and ensures free and fair elections, there is no point in participating in such polls, because the winner is already predetermined,” Dipke said.
He alleged that the BJP’s victories in states where it had previously failed to win even at the height of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity were linked to the functioning of the Election Commission under Kumar.
“The BJP is winning in states where it couldn't even secure a victory during the peak of the ‘Modi wave’ and this is happening because of Gyanesh Kumar. Once Gyanesh Kumar leaves and the SIR freezes, only then will we know how many seats the BJP actually wins,” he added.
Dipke visits Pune amid MPSC student protests
Dipke made the remarks while visiting Pune to express solidarity with students protesting against the Maharashtra government over alleged irregularities in Maharashtra Public Service Commission examinations.
The CJP founder spoke to students during the agitation, which has centred on allegations concerning examination processes and paper leaks. Local reports said the students have been demanding action over the functioning of the commission.
The Pune visit came as the CJP continues its wider campaign against Kumar and the Election Commission, with the organisation linking its political protests to concerns over electoral rolls and what it describes as threats to free and fair elections.
‘File more cases but we will still keep fighting’
Dipke has also responded defiantly to the possibility of legal action over the CJP’s recent Mumbai protest.
Earlier on Saturday, amid reports that a case had been filed in connection with the October 2 demonstration at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, he wrote on X: “File more cases but we will still keep fighting to save our democracy.”
The complaint was lodged by Siddhi Deolekar, a resident and advocate, at Shivaji Park Police Station. She named Dipke, CJP co-convener Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and Ratna Singh, alleging that they proceeded with the protest despite permission for the gathering being denied.
The CJP demonstration sought Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Election Commission’s functioning. Police had reportedly denied permission for the Shivaji Park gathering citing concerns including noise pollution, traffic disruption and law and order. Thousands nevertheless attended the protest.
Dipke has since announced a further mobilisation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Kumar does not resign.
SIR row and objections within Election Commission
Dipke’s comments come against the backdrop of an escalating dispute over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
An investigation by The Indian Express reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections at least 14 times over a period of 10 months concerning decisions and procedures related to voter registration, electoral rolls and technology systems.
The report said the two commissioners had objected to various actions, including decisions concerning additions and deletions from electoral rolls and changes to systems and procedures, sometimes saying they had not been adequately consulted.
The Election Commission has rejected the suggestion that the objections represented institutional dissent over final decisions, maintaining that major decisions, including the SIR exercise, were taken by the full commission.
The controversy has now reached the Supreme Court. The court is scheduled to hear petitions challenging the functioning of Kumar and seeking to declare the nationwide SIR of electoral rolls illegal. The petitions also raise allegations that decisions were taken without the concurrence of the other commissioners.
The CJP has made the SIR dispute central to its campaign against Kumar, while protests demanding his resignation have been held in Mumbai and Delhi. The organisation has said its October 10 Jantar Mantar demonstration will be peaceful and has appealed to supporters to participate. Recent protests have also drawn wider opposition participation, while the Election Commission and BJP have rejected allegations that the electoral roll exercise is designed to benefit the ruling party.