Resignation Is Only The Start: CJP Readies October 10 Protest As Opposition Keeps Heat On CEC

The political confrontation over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar intensified on Wednesday, with the Opposition taking its protest to Jantar Mantar, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) announcing a prolonged agitation from October 10 and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staging a separate demonstration over the revision of electoral rolls.

INDIA bloc MPs headed to Jantar Mantar for a sit-in after a solidarity lunch hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in central Delhi. The move came a day after their march towards the Election Commission headquarters was stopped by police and several leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were detained.

Wednesday's protest again saw a confrontation with police. Opposition leaders were stopped before reaching the designated protest site, with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi among those detained. Gandhi said the Opposition would continue raising the issue and described every FIR against him as a "medal". The Opposition is demanding Kumar's resignation over what it alleges are irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Opposition parties also sought an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu to raise their concerns over the CEC and the Election Commission. MPs were expected to seek a meeting with Kumar as well.

The CJP meanwhile stepped up preparations for its October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar. At a joint press conference with AISA, AISF, SFI and AAP's student wing ASAP, CJP co-convener Saurav Das urged people from across the country to travel to Delhi and warned that the fight would be prolonged.

Das said the agitation would continue even if Kumar resigned, as the organisers were seeking wider electoral reforms. Their demands include stopping SIR, restoring the January 2025 voters' list, halting upcoming elections, ordering an independent inquiry, initiating action against Kumar and repealing the 2023 law governing appointments to the Election Commission.

CJP formally informed Delhi Police about the October 10 gathering and submitted an undertaking. Das questioned the need for "permission", saying the organisers had submitted an intimation and would cooperate with the police.

AAP also joined the mobilisation, with workers protesting outside the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer's office at Kashmere Gate and demanding Kumar's resignation.

Meanwhile, Kumar's scheduled two-day visit to Chhattisgarh on October 7-8 was postponed for unspecified "unavoidable reasons", with fresh dates to be announced later.

With the Opposition maintaining street pressure and CJP and student organisations preparing a larger mobilisation, October 10 is emerging as the next major flashpoint in the escalating battle over the Election Commission and electoral rolls.