The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced plans for another major protest in New Delhi on October 10, 2026, keeping its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at the centre of its latest mobilisation. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke announced the proposed demonstration following the group's October 2 protest at Mumbai's Shivaji Park.

The current campaign is linked to concerns raised by CJP and other groups over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. CJP has alleged irregularities in the revision process and has demanded greater transparency from the Election Commission. These allegations are disputed and should not be treated as established findings. The Election Commission has defended the electoral-roll exercise and has directed officials to address cases involving eligible voters who may have been wrongly omitted.

Mumbai protest brings CJP back into the spotlight

On October 2, CJP supporters gathered at Mumbai's Shivaji Park for a protest demanding Kumar's resignation. Reports said thousands of people attended despite police denying permission for the event. Mumbai Police subsequently registered an FIR against supporters over allegations including unlawful assembly, traffic disruption and the use of loudspeakers without permission.

The Mumbai demonstration also attracted attention because of the movement's distinctive protest style, including satirical slogans, memes and pop-culture references.

What is CJP demanding?

The immediate demand of CJP is the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The organisation has connected that demand to its concerns about the SIR process and electoral-roll changes.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has said that if Kumar does not resign, supporters from across India will travel to Delhi for the October 10 demonstration. The proposed protest has been described by CJP as “Jantar Mantar 2.0.” Dipke has said the demonstration will be peaceful.

From education protests to electoral issues

CJP first gained wider attention through its campaign around examination-paper leaks and irregularities in the education system. The organisation has since positioned itself as a broader youth-led pressure group, moving beyond education-related issues into questions concerning elections and democratic institutions.

Its latest campaign has also attracted attention from opposition parties and student organisations, although the CJP and opposition groups continue to operate through their own organisational structures rather than as one formally unified movement.

What happens next?

The next major date for the movement is October 10, when CJP plans to return to Jantar Mantar in Delhi if its demand concerning the CEC is not met.

The controversy surrounding SIR and the electoral rolls is likely to remain an important political issue as different parties, civil-society groups and election authorities present competing interpretations of the process.