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CJP protest HIGHLIGHTS | 'Your barricades won’t be enough’: Dipke warns as Mumbai stir draws large crowds

The CJP has demanded that the 2025 voter list be frozen and has called for greater transparency and civil-society participation in the appointment of the CEC.
People take part in the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his resignation, at Shivaji Park, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.
People take part in the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his resignation, at Shivaji Park, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.PTI
TNIE online desk
Summary

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday held a large protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over alleged electoral-roll irregularities. Despite police denying permission, thousands gathered, with security deployed up to Dadar station.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke warned of “Jantar Mantar 2.0” and called for a “Chalo Delhi” campaign if Kumar did not resign. CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde demanded Kumar’s resignation, criminal proceedings against him, a freeze on the 2025 voter lists and repeal of the 2023 law governing the appointment of Election Commissioners.

Dipke alleged that 13 crore voters had been deleted in two years and linked alleged voter deletions in Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to electoral outcomes. He also accused the BJP of trying to eliminate regional parties and criticised the “One Nation, One Election” proposal as part of an alleged “One Nation, One Election, One Party” agenda.

The protest drew actors Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, filmmakers Vishal Bhardwaj and Hansal Mehta, singer Vishal Dadlani and Tushar Gandhi. SFI activists and youngsters carried tricolours and satirical posters targeting Kumar, while AISF groups from Pune played instruments. Protesters also brought props including “Melody” wrapper jewellery and a “Fraud detergent powder” banner. Songs from Rang De Basanti and A R Rahman’s Vande Mataram were played, while the stage featured Gandhian quotations and tributes to Babasaheb Ambedkar.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) backed the agitation, with local MLA Mahesh Sawant saying Aaditya Thackeray could not attend because he was unwell. CJP co-convenor Saurav Das meanwhile accused Delhi Police of “brutality” over the detention of protesters at Jantar Mantar.

Dipke had also challenged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to arrest him and other protesters. The agitation concluded after Dipke reiterated the demand for Kumar’s resignation.

Protests planned across Bengal, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and Goa in coming days

CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde said protests would be held in Goa, Bengaluru, Patna, Ranchi, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign, the party will protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar from late October. The CJP will remain independent and skip the Opposition’s October 6 protest.

When and where will CJP hold a protest in Mumbai? When and where will CJP hold a protest in Mumbai?

The CJP will hold a protest at Shivaji Park in Mumbai's Dadar area today (Friday). The demonstration begins at 4pm.

Heavy police deployment at Mumbai's Shivaji Park

Security was stepped up around Shivaji Park and Dadar railway station on Friday as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) prepared to hold a protest at 4 pm demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, despite police denying permission.

A large police contingent, including women personnel, along with security teams from other agencies, was deployed at key locations around the park and station to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident.

CM Fadnavis says CEC ‘fake narrative’ has been busted

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the allegations surrounding the CJP protest had been exposed, claiming that the Election Commissioners’ press conference had disproved the narrative being pushed by the protesters. He added that attempts to continue promoting the “fake narrative” would not succeed.

CJP says activists throng Shivaji Park

CJP shares legal aid contacts for protesters

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said its Mumbai legal team is ready to assist activists who may be detained during Friday's protest. In a post on X, the group shared contact details for legal help in case of what it described as "illegal detention".

Cockroach Janta Party supporters arrive at the protest site

Actor Naseeruddin Shah joins Abhijit Dipke at Shivaji Park

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah reached Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on Friday ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) scheduled protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Shah met CJP founder Abhijit Dipke at the protest site and greeted him. Dipke shared a video of the meeting on his socials.

'Mumbai shows up’: CJP’s Saurav Das shares image of protesters

“MUMBAI SHOWS UP! 4:30 PM,” CJP co-convenor Saurav Das said in a post on X, sharing an image of protesters gathered in Mumbai and demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Why is CJP holding its protest in Mumbai, not Delhi?

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is holding its protest in Mumbai instead of Delhi, where it had earlier demanded the resignation of Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai on Thursday, CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke explained the reasoning behind the choice. “In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP won only nine seats out of 48 seats. In the Assembly elections held six months later, the scenario changed altogether. How did this change happen?” he said, according to an Indian Express report.

“It is in this context that we have chosen to start the agitation from Mumbai,” Dipke said.

Explaining the choice in Marathi, Dipke also said, “Even the Delhi throne is guarded by Maharashtra,” according to the report.

‘Government is so incompetent that we have to protest again in two months’: Dipke

CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke criticised the government during the protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, alleging that its failure to address key concerns had forced demonstrators to return to the streets within two months. He questioned the government’s effectiveness and reiterated the protesters’ demands.

CJP leader Dipke dares Maharashtra CM Fadnavis to send protesters gathered at Shivaji Park seeking CEC's resignation to jail

‘Gen Next Mumbai’ protests CJP, says Dipke’s remarks on ‘dismantling Constitution’ will not be tolerated

A group identifying itself as “Gen Next Mumbai” held a protest in Mumbai against the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).

One of the protesters said the group was demonstrating against CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke’s alleged remarks about dismantling the Constitution. The protesters said they had gathered beneath a statue of BR Ambedkar to “protect and respect the Constitution” and that the conduct of the CJP “will not be tolerated”.

Protesters carry placards demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation

CJP protesters at Shivaji Park carried the tricolour and placards bearing messages including “Gyanu, Tujha Democracy Var Bharosa Nay Kay?” (Gyanesh, don't you trust democracy), “Gyanesh BRO, JUST RESIGN” and “Gaddaar Gyaanu Must Go”.

Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Vishal Dadlani attend CJP protest

Veteran actors Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah, along with singer Vishal Dadlani, were among those present at the CJP protest at Shivaji Park.

Tushar Gandhi joins CJP protest at Shivaji Park

Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, was among those present at the CJP protest in Mumbai demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.

CJP seeks transparency in CEC appointment, freeze on 2025 voter list

The CJP has demanded greater transparency in the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and sought a freeze on the 2025 voter list. The demands come amid reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections to some SIR-related decisions. The Election Commission has said all decisions were taken unanimously.

Some Dadar residents oppose CJP protest in neighbourhood

Some residents of the Dadar area voiced opposition to the CJP protest being held in their neighbourhood, as thousands gathered at Shivaji Park.

Shelar calls CJP agitation against SIR a ‘grammar of anarchy’

Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar said objections to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls should be raised through constitutional and legal channels rather than street protests. Calling the CJP’s Shivaji Park agitation “unconstitutional”, Shelar accused the Opposition of creating distrust over the exercise.

One Nation One Election is just slogan, BJP wants One Nation One Party: Abhijeet Dipke

After vote deletion, BJP won states it had not won even during peak Modi wave, claims Abhijeet Dipke at Mumbai protest.

Satirical posters, ‘Melody’ jewellery and music mark CJP protest

Young activists at Shivaji Park waved tricolours and carried satirical posters targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, including “Gyanu, Tujha Democracy Var Bharosa Nay Kay?”, “Gyanesh BRO, JUST RESIGN” and “Gaddaar Gyaanu Must Go”. SFI activists joined the gathering, while some wore jewellery made from “Melody” chocolate wrappers and held a “Fraud detergent powder” banner in Devanagari.

Groups affiliated with the All India Students’ Federation from Pune played musical instruments near the park’s perimeter and led chants of “Chale Jao”, “Vapas Do” and “Band Karo”.

"Your barricades won’t be enough”: Dipke at CJP gathering

CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke said a large number of people would arrive from across the country for the Mumbai protest against the Election Commission and alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise. “So many people will arrive that your barricades won’t be enough!” he told the gathering, saying the Mumbai agitation would receive support from people across the country.

Dipke thanks Mumbai Police, takes swipe at Delhi Police over protest handling

CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke thanked the Mumbai Police for their cooperation during Friday’s agitation while taking a dig at the Delhi Police over their alleged handling of protesters at Jantar Mantar. “Thank you, Mumbai Police, for your cooperation today. Salute to all the police personnel who were on duty! Jai Hind. Delhi Police, seekh lo kuch Mumbai Police se,” Dipke wrote on X.

Shivaji Park
CEC Gyanesh Kumar
CJP

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The New Indian Express
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