Dipke Warns Fadnavis Ahead of Protest
CJP founder Abhijit Dipke warns against police action ahead of a planned Mumbai protest, while demanding changes to electoral-roll procedures and accountability from the Election Commission.
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke warned Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis against ordering his arrest ahead of the party's planned protest at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on October 2. Speaking at a press conference on October 1, Dipke said such action would be a mistake and referred to an earlier incident involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Dipke claimed that millions of voters had been removed from electoral rolls and said the issue could trigger demonstrations demanding accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and his superiors. These figures and allegations were presented by Dipke and were not independently established in the report.
The CJP founder demanded that elections be conducted using the January 2005 voters' list. He also called for Kumar's resignation, an impartial inquiry into alleged irregularities and the repeal of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
Mumbai Police had not granted permission for the planned gathering at Shivaji Park. Dipke said the party intended to proceed with its protest despite the restriction and stated that he would return to demonstrations if arrested. He questioned why political rallies could be held at the venue while the party's protest was denied permission.
The planned agitation was part of CJP's campaign over electoral-roll revisions and concerns about voting rights. Dipke said the party would continue mobilising supporters and take its demands to the streets, including through further demonstrations if its demands were not addressed.