The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has given Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar 48 hours to resign, warning of protests across India if he does not step down, according to reports.
The party also demanded that upcoming elections be put on hold and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls be rolled back to the 2025 position.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke made the demand at a New Delhi press conference. Co-convenor Saurav Das called for criminal proceedings against Kumar and others allegedly directing him, custody of SIR-related files under a Supreme Court-led committee and repeal of the law governing the appointment of Election Commissioners.
Gyanesh Kumar threatens our democracy. Govt choosing voters isn't democracy, says Abhijeet Dipke#GyaneshKumar #SaveDemocracy #DemocracyInDanger #VotersRights #IndianPolitics #DemocracyUnderThreat #AbhijitDipke pic.twitter.com/vJ1HOxuGst
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) September 24, 2026
The demands follow an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over decisions related to electoral-roll processes.
The Election Commission has disputed the suggestion of a decision-making rift, saying differing views are a normal part of institutional deliberations and that decisions taken over the past year, including SIR, were unanimous decisions of the full Commission.
Dipke also alleged that Kumar was acting under the direction of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and claimed the SIR was being used politically to benefit the BJP.
These are allegations by the CJP and have not been established.
The CJP said it would organise sit-ins in Delhi and protests nationally, while also urging citizens and young people to join the proposed agitation.
