Protesters in Mumbai Demand Election Chief’s Resignation
Thousands attended a protest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and a freeze on the 2025 voter list. Police had refused permission for the demonstration but deployed security and monitored the event, according to India Today.
Thousands of protesters gathered at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and greater transparency in the management of electoral rolls, India Today reported. The demonstration was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party on Friday, which coincided with Gandhi Jayanti. Protesters carried placards with slogans criticising Kumar and the Election Commission, including calls for a clean-up of democracy and claims that votes had been stolen.
Police had refused permission for the protest, but security personnel were deployed across central Mumbai. Routes from nearby Dadar railway station were barricaded, while officers monitored the gathering and sought to prevent disruption to traffic and public order. The party demanded transparency in the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and called for a freeze on the 2025 voter list, saying it should not be altered further.
Its campaign followed media reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected on at least 14 occasions over 10 months to decisions and orders associated with the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Election Commission subsequently said decisions of its three-member panel, including those related to the revision, had been taken unanimously. Student activists from the Students’ Federation of India and the All India Students’ Federation attended.
Veteran actors Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah, singer Vishal Dadlani and activist Tushar Gandhi were also reported to be present. CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke criticised the central government and challenged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to send protesters to jail. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena supported the agitation, although some local residents objected to holding it in the neighbourhood.
Earlier, Dipke paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in south Mumbai. Police said they were keeping a close watch on the situation to maintain law and order and ensure that traffic was not affected.
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