India’s “cockroach” protesters return, demand poll chief resign

MUMBAI, 2 OCTOBER 2026 —

India’s ‘Cockroach’ Protesters Return to Demand CEC’s Resignation Over Alleged Electoral Manipulation

local time (10:30 GMT), marks the group’s latest escalation in a campaign targeting electoral integrity, following its earlier success in forcing the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in July.

The CJP’s renewed push comes after The Indian Express reported last week that two of Kumar’s fellow commissioners—Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi—had formally objected at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions they claimed were issued without their knowledge. The disputes centered on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a controversial voter roll cleanup exercise that has already removed 130 million names from the electoral database.

Opposition parties and activists allege the process is being weaponized to suppress opposition votes, while the Election Commission (EC) insists all decisions were unanimous and that the exercise aims to eliminate duplicates and ineligible entries.

The Mumbai protest, the first in a planned nationwide series culminating in Delhi in October, has drawn support from major opposition parties, including the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), a coalition led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Gandhi has repeatedly accused the EC of "stealing votes from the opposition", while Banerjee has demanded Kumar’s arrest.

The INDIA alliance has also announced protest rallies across the country, with opposition MPs planning a march to the EC’s Delhi office on October 6.

Despite Mumbai police denying the CJP’s permit application, the group has vowed to proceed, threatening a "Jail Bharo Andolan" (Fill the Jails Movement) if arrests occur. In a social media video, the CJP framed the issue as a democratic imperative, stating: "It is a citizen’s right to vote, and preventing eligible voters from casting their ballot is a serious concern in a democracy.

We demand transparency and accountability from the commission and want the CEC to resign. This is not a fight for one party—it’s for free and fair elections and every citizen’s right to vote."

The CJP’s influence stems from its 25 million Instagram followers and 400,000 on X (formerly Twitter), where it has mobilized supporters through posts, reels, and animated videos urging mass participation. Security in Mumbai has been tightened in anticipation of large crowds, with opposition parties pledging solidarity.

The EC has not responded to the resignation calls or allegations, nor has it addressed claims of vote theft or electoral manipulation, though it reiterated in a statement that "differing views are part of the decision-making process" and that all actions were taken collectively.

The protest follows a growing political crisis over the SIR exercise, which began last year and has faced widespread skepticism. The EC has defended the process as necessary to clean up voter rolls, but critics argue the removal of 130 million names—nearly 10% of the electorate—raises concerns about disenfranchisement.

The two dissenting commissioners had also raised questions about the integrity of the voter database, enrollment procedures, and security risks to the electoral rolls, according to The Indian Express.

As the CJP prepares for its Mumbai rally, the INDIA alliance’s coordinated protests and the EC’s refusal to address allegations suggest the issue will dominate India’s political discourse in the coming weeks. The movement’s success in forcing Pradhan’s resignation has emboldened the group, which now positions itself as a watchdog for electoral fairness, framing its demands as essential for democratic legitimacy.

The next phase of protests, including the Delhi rally in October, will test whether the CJP can sustain its momentum and whether the EC will face further pressure to address the mounting concerns over electoral transparency.

Related: Election Commission · Gyanesh Kumar · Mumbai