CJP's Saurav Das targets Gyanesh Kumar as group plans October 2 Mumbai protest

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convener Saurav Das on Monday launched a fresh attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Gen Z would ensure he was “fully humbled” amid growing scrutiny of the Election Commission's functioning.

Das's remarks came after reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections to several decisions taken within the poll panel, including those concerning electoral-roll revisions and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The controversy has also coincided with the CJP's campaign demanding Kumar's resignation and changes to the functioning and legal framework of the Election Commission.

Das questions role of courts in accountability debate

In a post on X, Das referred to the reported objections by the two Election Commissioners and questioned whether accountability for the Chief Election Commissioner should be left to the judiciary.

He also referred to petitions filed in the high courts and the Supreme Court against actions associated with Kumar. Das cited the Supreme Court's proceedings concerning the SIR in West Bengal and questioned whether judicial intervention alone could address what he described as a matter of democratic accountability.

“From walking with so much arrogance and impunity to not being able to leave his residence and cancelling Gen-Z engagements, life has humbled Gyanu. A lesson for other stooges too. Now the young-gen will ensure he is fully humbled,” Das said in response to a fan-edit of Kumar.

In another post, Das said courts could hear petitions against the Election Commission and issue orders, but argued that the CJP's demand for Kumar's accountability would remain outside the courtroom.

“The people will decide. Because ultimately, neither an Election Commissioner nor a judge owns Indian democracy. We, the People, do,” he wrote.

The Supreme Court has been monitoring the SIR exercise in West Bengal and directed authorities to put in place a mechanism allowing people to challenge their exclusion from electoral rolls.

CJP announces Jail Bharo Andolan for October 2

The CJP has now announced a “Jail Bharo Andolan” in Mumbai on October 2, after Mumbai Police denied permission for its proposed gathering at Shivaji Park on Gandhi Jayanti.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke announced the protest on Monday, saying it would be held at Shivaji Park at 4pm under the slogan “Gyanu must go”. He also used the hashtag “Save Democracy” in his post on X.

The police said it was not empowered to grant permission for a gathering at Shivaji Park, citing restrictions arising from a Bombay High Court judgment and subsequent Maharashtra government orders. It also referred to concerns over noise pollution, traffic congestion and possible disruption to the movement of emergency vehicles and patients in the area. Organisers were advised to identify an alternative venue and submit a fresh application.

Dipke had earlier said the CJP would launch a nationwide protest from Mumbai on October 2 if Kumar did not resign. The group had described the planned mobilisation as “Jantar Mantar 2.0”, referring to its earlier July agitation.

CJP lists demands as ECI faces scrutiny

The CJP has demanded Kumar's resignation and criminal proceedings against him and others whom the group alleges were responsible for decisions linked to the Election Commission.

Its other demands include freezing the SIR and restoring the January 2025 electoral roll, as well as repealing the 2023 law governing the appointment of election commissioners and reforming the poll body.

The campaign intensified following an Indian Express investigation which reported that Sandhu and Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months concerning decisions and processes within the Election Commission. The issues reported included electoral-roll revisions, additions and deletions of voters and aspects of the SIR exercise.

The Election Commission has maintained that differences of opinion and written observations are part of its internal deliberations. It has said that the decisions taken on the SIR were unanimous.

The reported internal objections have nevertheless intensified public and political scrutiny of the poll panel.

Gyanesh Kumar's Gen Z engagements were postponed

The controversy also followed the postponement of two proposed Gen Z interactions involving Kumar in Uttar Pradesh.

The Chief Election Commissioner was scheduled to visit Meerut on September 25 and Varanasi on September 28 for interactions with young voters. The Election Commission said the postponement was unrelated to the SIR controversy and that the decision had been taken on September 21 because of logistical and local factors as well as changes in Kumar's official commitments.

The CJP has linked the postponement to its wider campaign against Kumar, although the Election Commission has rejected that connection.

The group's October 2 mobilisation comes as the Election Commission continues to face scrutiny over its handling of electoral-roll revisions and the SIR. Mumbai Police has asked the organisers to seek an alternative venue if they wish to hold the protest in accordance with the applicable rules.