The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a nationwide mobilisation against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, beginning October 23.
At a press conference,
the CJP said it would take its campaign to states where elections are due and collect evidence related to alleged irregularities in the voter-roll revision process. The group also reiterated its demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
“We will see the pushback from October 23,” the CJP said, adding that farmers, Dalits, students and Gen Z would be part of the planned mobilisation.
The group said it had already submitted evidence to the group hearing the SIR-related case and would now expand its campaign across the country.
The announcement comes days after a major CJP-led protest in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The October 10 protest was marked by a massive police crackdown. CJP leaders, including founder Abhijeet Dipke, were detained before they could reach Jantar Mantar, while thousands of protesters were detained across Delhi.
Parts of central Delhi saw heavy security restrictions, including barricading and restrictions on public transport and internet services. With Jantar Mantar heavily fortified, protesters held smaller demonstrations at places including Connaught Place, Dilli Haat and Raj Ghat. The Indian Express
The protest was triggered by allegations surrounding the SIR exercise, particularly claims of large-scale deletion of voters from electoral rolls. The immediate political trigger was also an Indian Express investigation reporting that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections to several SIR-related decisions taken under CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The Election Commission has denied wrongdoing.
