Cockroach Janta Party Plans Delhi March Demanding Election Chief Resign
The youth-led movement escalated its pressure on India's electoral authorities following protests over voter deletions.
The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party announced plans to march on New Delhi on October 10 if Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar does not resign. Party convener Abhijeet Dipke said on social media that supporters from across the country will gather at Jantar Mantar. The announcement followed protests on Friday in New Delhi and Mumbai over alleged irregularities in voter rolls.
The controversy centers on the nationwide Special Intensive Revision of electoral lists that began last year. Opposition parties and youth groups allege that the process removed millions of eligible citizens from the rolls. The dispute widened after reports revealed that two election commissioners had questioned decisions and procedures overseen by Kumar.
The Election Commission has defended its operations. The agency stated that its actions follow legal standards and established guidelines. Officials explained that the revision aims to remove duplicate, deceased, and ineligible entries from voter rolls. Kumar has not commented publicly on the demands for his resignation.
Friday protests in New Delhi met strict security measures. Authorities enacted prohibitory orders barring assemblies of more than five people. Transport officials shut entry and exit gates at 11 metro stations across central areas. Security forces detained more than 700 demonstrators, including opposition politicians and student leaders.
A parallel protest occurred in Mumbai at Shivaji Park, drawing several thousand participants despite a lack of police permits. Demonstrators carried national flags and signs calling for the election chief to leave office.
The Cockroach Janta Party gained prominence earlier this year after organizing demonstrations over exam paper leaks. Those protests ended with the resignation of the federal education minister. Group leaders took their name after an official compared online youth activists to insects.
Dipke said the October 10 demonstration will follow nonviolent civil disobedience methods. If police block the march, participants plan to assemble wherever security forces halt them. Opposition parties belonging to the INDIA alliance have scheduled their own march to the Election Commission office in Delhi on October 6.
