The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign within 48 hours, warning that it will launch a nationwide agitation if the demand is not accepted.
CJP founder and convenor Abhijeet Dipke announced the demand at a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday, held under the theme “Hijacking of India’s Democracy”. The party said its immediate focus would be on the functioning of the Election Commission and protection of voting rights.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: CJP demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation
Location: New Delhi
Authority/Organisation: Cockroach Janta Party / Election Commission of India
Action Taken: CJP issued a 48-hour resignation demand and warned of nationwide protests
Impact: The announcement adds another political demand to the ongoing debate over the Election Commission and SIR
CJP also called for criminal proceedings against Gyanesh Kumar and those it alleges directed him, a temporary freeze on upcoming elections, and a rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to the 2025 electoral-roll position.
The party further demanded that SIR-related files be placed under the custody of a Supreme Court-led committee and that the law governing the appointment of Election Commissioners be repealed. These are demands and allegations made by the CJP and are not established findings of a court or election authority.
The press conference came amid controversy surrounding reported objections by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi to several decisions and actions within the poll panel over the past 10 months. Reports cited by the CJP said the objections included matters concerning voter additions, deletions and restoration, changes to Form 6 and aspects of the SIR process.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The development adds a new political dimension to the ongoing debate over electoral-roll revision and the functioning of the Election Commission. The key point of contention is not only the CJP's demands but also the contrasting positions: CJP has alleged problems with the functioning of the poll panel, while the Election Commission has maintained that internal differences are part of normal deliberations and that final decisions were unanimous.
The Election Commission has rejected the interpretation that the reported differences indicate a breakdown within the three-member constitutional body. In a statement, the Commission said differing views, written observations and internal checks are part of normal deliberations and maintained that final decisions, including those related to SIR, were taken unanimously.
CJP's latest announcement therefore places its demands directly against the Election Commission's position that the reported internal differences were part of its normal decision-making process.
