The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has announced its support for the INDIA bloc rally scheduled to be held at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on November 1. On October 28, the party reiterated its demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls could lead to eligible voters being excluded from the lists.
In its statement, the CJP said that the people have the right to choose their government in a democracy and that no government should have the authority to determine who can or cannot vote.
According to the party, the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has raised questions about this principle. It said the electoral system must ensure that every eligible citizen can exercise their voting rights without difficulty.
The CJP alleged that amid concerns over the SIR process, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had lost the public trust necessary to conduct free and fair elections. These remain allegations made by the party and are not established facts against the Election Commission.
CJP founder Abhijit Dipke announced the party's support for the INDIA bloc rally in a post on the social media platform X. He called for the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner from office and said the national interest should remain the highest priority.
The party also said it would stand with organisations demanding free and fair elections in the country. According to the CJP, protecting voting rights is not an issue limited to any one political party but a question concerning the entire democratic system.
In its statement, the CJP referred to Dr B. R. Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru and the framers of the Constitution. The party said the Constitution's framers had decided to grant equal voting rights to every adult citizen. At the time, many people had never participated in an election.
Despite this, the framers placed their trust in the people and chose to bring all eligible citizens into the democratic process. According to the CJP, this principle remains important today. The party said electoral roll verification must ensure that no eligible person's name is wrongly removed from the list.
The INDIA bloc has announced a rally at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan on November 1. Opposition parties are preparing to raise issues related to electoral roll revision, alleged electoral irregularities and the accountability of the Election Commission.
According to Congress leader K. C. Venugopal, 21 opposition parties are expected to participate in the programme. The opposition alleges that serious questions have arisen over transparency in the electoral process and the protection of voters' rights. The allegations need to be assessed through an impartial examination and against official facts.
Ahead of the November 1 rally, the opposition has planned a separate programme against the Chief Election Commissioner on October 30. According to Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, the programme is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the official residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi.
The opposition is linking the programme to the accountability of the Chief Election Commissioner. However, a political programme of this nature does not replace the constitutional procedure for removing a Chief Election Commissioner from office.
The CJP and the Congress have previously expressed similar concerns over electoral issues, although their political activities have largely remained separate. With the CJP extending its support, the November 1 rally has gained the backing of another organisation.
The development adds another participant to the political debate surrounding the Election Commission and the SIR process. Attention is now focused on the rally in Delhi, where opposition parties are expected to present their demands. The Election Commission's response to the allegations remains to be seen.
