‘CEC Gyanesh Kumar must resign’: CJP, INDIA bloc, youth wings to protest in Delhi, Mumbai from Oct 2 – complete plan | Today’s news
A wave of protests is underway in Delhi, Mumbai and other cities by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), the INDIA bloc and other opposition youth wings seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission and the introduction of Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The CJP, a youth-led organization, as well as opposition parties criticized CEC Kumar after it emerged that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections to decisions and orders at least 14 times in 10 months, some of which they said were issued without their knowledge.
The Election Commission later clarified that the three-member panel took all decisions, including those related to SIR, unanimously.
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Key demands include the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, criminal proceedings against him, a halt to the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls and the restoration of the January 2025 electoral roll.
The protests are being held due to allegations of irregularities in the functioning of the electoral commission and fears of mass deletion of voters from the electoral rolls.
Delhi Police denied permission for the protest at Jantar Mantar, citing security concerns, and imposed a curfew to prevent unauthorized gatherings.
The SIR is significant because it raises concerns about the proper maintenance of electoral rolls, which affects the voting rights of citizens and the overall integrity of the upcoming elections.
Individuals may consider joining protests if they share concerns about electoral integrity and electoral commission governance, but should be aware of the legal implications of unauthorized gatherings.
Here is a list of all the protests announced so far and details of who will be leading/participating in these demonstrations:
1. Delhi
Called by the All India Students’ Association (AISA), Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha and Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan, the protest begins at 11 am at Jantar Mantar, a designated site for peaceful protests in the capital.
AAP leaders and workers, civil society representatives and members of National Students Union of India (NSUI), Indian Youth Congress (IYC), Students Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) are expected to participate in the protest.
While Delhi Police denied permission to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar, security has been beefed up in the area and a traffic alert has been issued.
The Delhi Metro also announced that entry and exit at 11 stations will be closed on Friday. These stations include Janpath, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Rajiv Chowk, Seva Teerth, Mandi House, Lok Kalyan Marg, INA, Chawri Bazar, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg and New Delhi.
Police sources told PTI that around 3,000 to 4,000 people are expected to participate in the rally, prompting increased security in the area.
According to reports, the organizers are seeking the resignation or impeachment of Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in voter lists, the conduct of elections and “mass erasure” of voters.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday warned of protests across the country, followed by an uproar at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar from October-end, if Kumar does not step down.
“Gyanesh Kumar is a traitor. We will not move from Jantar Mantar until he resigns from his post. Gyanesh Kumar should resign and face prosecution,” Dipke said during an interaction at the Mumbai Press Club.
2. Mumbai
The CJP is also launching its nationwide protest today from Mumbai demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
CJP Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das told ANI that the protest will begin at Shivaji Park and subsequently be taken to different parts of the country.
“The protest will start at Shivaji Park tomorrow and from there we will take this protest to the whole country. We will finally end it only when Gyanesh Kumar resigns. He must go. He is a traitor to this country, enemy number one,” Das said.
He added that “we will ensure that he is removed from this position, all his crimes are undone and he will pay for the crimes he has committed against the young generation and against the country.
With particular emphasis on suffrage, he argued that if suffrage was taken away, nothing would change in society.
3. Schedule of opposition protests
Leaders of 19 parties in the opposition Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance, or INDIA, met in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss their strategy on SIR.
The group planned district-level protests from October 2 to 8, while opposition legislators will march to the Election Commission on October 6, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters after the meeting.
He also called on young Indians to join marches and other rallies planned by the bloc in the coming weeks.
• October 2 to 8, 2026: District level marches and demonstrations in front of District Magistrate offices across the country.
• October 6, 2026: Opposition MPs from both houses of Parliament would march to the EC office in New Delhi
• November 1, 2026: A mega rally is to be held in Delhi.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Shiv Sena (UBT) have announced a protest march against the Election Commission in Mumbai on October 4.
