Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder
Abhijeet Dipke on Wednesday announced his party’s support for the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Dipke shared the announcement on social media platform X and called for Kumar to step down. He said the party supported the opposition alliance’s campaign against the electoral roll revision exercise.
“GYANU MUST GO! The Cockroach Janta Party extends its support to the INDIA Bloc’s November 1 rally. Nation above all,” Dipke posted on X.
CJP Supports INDIA Bloc’s Protest Against SIR
In its statement, the CJP questioned the purpose and impact of the SIR exercise. The party argued that democracy allows citizens to choose their government through elections, rather than allowing the government to decide who can participate in the voting process.
The outfit expressed concern that the revision of electoral rolls could remove eligible voters from the lists. It said the process must protect citizens’ voting rights and ensure that every eligible person can take part in elections.
“The fundamental principle of democracy is that people get to choose their government, not that the government gets to choose its voters,” the outfit said.
The party's support for the November 1 rally reflects its opposition to the SIR exercise and its demand for accountability from the Election Commission.
CJP Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Resignation
The Cockroach Janta Party also demanded Kumar’s resignation. It argued that his departure was necessary to restore public confidence in the Election Commission.
The party referred to the democratic principles established by the framers of the Constitution, including Dr BR Ambedkar and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It said they had supported universal adult suffrage by granting every adult citizen an equal right to vote, regardless of caste, religion, gender, education or economic status.
According to the CJP, universal adult suffrage aimed to widen democratic participation and ensure equal political rights for all citizens. The party alleged that the SIR exercise had raised concerns about the possible exclusion of eligible voters from electoral rolls.
“The idea was simple: bring more citizens into democracy, not keep them out of it,” the CJP said in its statement.
INDIA Bloc Leaders Plan Further Action Against CEC
The CJP’s announcement comes amid wider opposition to the SIR exercise and demands for action against the Chief Election Commissioner.
The INDIA bloc has also planned other initiatives against Kumar. Opposition leaders are scheduled to hold a ‘public impeachment of CEC’ at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence in Delhi on October 30.
The planned event and the November 1 rally form part of the opposition’s campaign over concerns surrounding electoral roll revisions and the Election Commission’s role.
CJP Invokes Ambedkar’s Vision of Equal Voting Rights
The CJP said the government and constitutional institutions must protect Ambedkar’s vision of equal political representation. It stressed that the Election Commission has a responsibility to safeguard the voting rights of every eligible citizen.
The party maintained that electoral processes should strengthen democratic participation rather than create barriers for voters. It also called on authorities to ensure that no eligible citizen loses the right to vote during the revision of electoral rolls.
“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 CJP said.
Party Pledges Support for Free and Fair Elections
The Cockroach Janta Party also expressed solidarity with organisations campaigning for free and fair elections. It said protecting voting rights and ensuring equal political participation were essential to preserving democracy.
The party concluded its statement with the slogans "Jai Bhim. Jai Hind.”
With its support for the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally, the CJP has joined the opposition campaign against the SIR exercise and added its voice to calls for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
