India’s Cockroach Janta Party gives CEC 48 hours to resign

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in India has given Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar 48 hours to resign, threatening nationwide protests over allegations surrounding the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The CJP issued the ultimatum on Thursday after reports by The Indian Express detailed objections allegedly raised by two Election Commissioners over decisions related to the nationwide voter-list revision, according to The Telegraph.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the group would launch “Jantar Mantar 2”-style protests if Kumar did not step down within the deadline. He also called for Kumar’s removal, criminal proceedings against those responsible for alleged irregularities and disclosure of who authorised the disputed actions.

The group demanded an immediate halt to upcoming elections and the formation of an independent inquiry commission to examine the SIR decision-making process. It also called for a new law to restructure the Election Commission.

The CJP further urged the Supreme Court to order that SIR-related files be sealed and placed in its custody, citing concerns over the preservation of records.

The group’s demands came amid a wider political controversy over reports of disagreements within the Election Commission. *The Indian Express* reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on multiple occasions over decisions concerning electoral-roll revisions.

CJP members alleged that voter deletions and additions had been handled through irregular or centralised processes. They also raised concerns about Form 6, which is used for enrolling new voters, and the revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal and Goa.

The group alleged that millions of voters had been affected by the SIR process and said young voters could face difficulties enrolling. It also raised concerns about the possible impact of voter-list changes on access to government welfare schemes in some states.

However, the Election Commission has rejected suggestions of an internal split, maintaining that decisions related to the SIR were taken unanimously with the approval of all three commissioners.

The CJP, which describes itself as a pressure group rather than a political party, also urged opposition parties to take a stand if they believe electoral processes are being compromised.