'Jantar Mantar at Kochi': Prakash Raj, CJP Founder to Join Protest Against Voter Roll Revision

Actor Prakash Raj and Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke are among the prominent figures expected to join a protest march and public meeting in Kochi on Saturday, as the party steps up its campaign against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Titled 'Jantar Mantar at Kochi', the programme will begin with a protest march from Marine Drive at 4 pm, proceeding towards Rajendra Maidan, where a public meeting will be held, organisers said on Friday.

The event is expected to attract participants, particularly young people, from different parts of Kerala. CJP national leader Afreen Nawaz and its South India in-charge Vijay Reddy Mallangi are also scheduled to take part.

Dipke and Raj have already taken to social media to appeal to people to participate in the demonstration. The organisers said the rally aims to oppose the SIR exercise and demand its withdrawal.

The Kochi protest comes amid a series of demonstrations organised by the CJP against the electoral roll revision, with the party's activities in Delhi drawing police action.

CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were arrested after entering Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, which had been denotified as a protest site by the Delhi Police last month. Dipke was subsequently detained ahead of a Tiranga March announced by the party in the national capital.

CJP leaders were also recently questioned by the Delhi Police Crime Branch in connection with cases linked to protests held in Delhi.

Meanwhile, Kochi City Police Special Branch officials said party activists had met the Deputy Commissioner of Police to discuss arrangements for Saturday's programme. Police said adequate personnel would be deployed to maintain law and order, although the organisers expect the demonstration to remain peaceful.