Cockroach Janta Party says Gyanesh Kumar must quit, backs INDIA bloc's November 1 rally

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke. PTI picture

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has backed the INDIA bloc's November 1 rally demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, accusing the poll body's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise of undermining electoral democracy and raising concerns over the exclusion of eligible voters.

In a statement, the outfit said the SIR exercise had raised serious concerns about the exclusion of eligible voters and alleged that the Election Commission was undermining the principle that people should choose their government, rather than the government choosing its voters.

"By undermining this very principle through SIR, Gyanesh Kumar has lost the trust required to oversee free and fair elections. His resignation is therefore necessary to restore the credibility and independence of the Election Commission," the CJP said.

The CJP invoked the role of Dr BR Ambedkar in framing the Constitution, arguing that every adult citizen received an equal right to vote regardless of caste, religion, gender, education or economic background.

The party said Ambedkar, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and other makers of the Constitution placed their faith in the people at a time when millions of Indians had never participated in an election.

"Democracy could only succeed when every citizen had an equal say in deciding the country's future," the CJP said, adding that the principle was to bring more citizens into democracy rather than exclude them.

"The idea was simple: bring more citizens into democracy, not keep them out of it," it said.

In a post on X, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said, "Gyanu must go! The Cockroach Janta Party extends its support to the INDIA Bloc's November 1 rally. Nation above all!"

The outfit said the Election Commission was responsible for safeguarding the voting rights of every eligible citizen and should not create obstacles to exercising them.

"Our Constitution gave every adult citizen the right to vote. It is our responsibility to ensure that no eligible citizen is deprived of that right," the statement said.

The CJP said it would support all organisations fighting for free and fair elections in the country. The statement ended with the slogans "Jai Bhim" and "Jai Hind".

The CJP's support for the INDIA bloc's rally comes weeks after a rare public exchange between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke. Rahul had backed a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar after CJP leaders were arrested, saying, "Waving the Tricolour at Jantar Mantar in a peaceful protest is not a crime. Jailing youth for it is an act of cowardice." Although Rahul did not name the CJP in his post on X, Dipke responded with a "thank you".

The exchange came after the Congress and the CJP found themselves on the same side of several issues, including exam paper leaks and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, despite largely maintaining their distance in public.

The opposition alliance has also planned a "public impeachment" event against the CEC on October 30, which it will hold at the official residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge after allegedly facing permission hurdles at other venues.

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said the event would take place at 10, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi, at 3.30 pm.

The October 30 programme was planned as a curtain-raiser for the INDIA bloc's November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan in the national capital. KC Venugopal said 21 opposition parties had planned to participate in the event against alleged electoral irregularities and the opposition's "vote chori" charge.