New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for “undermining” voter rights, and warned of a nationwide agitation, including “Jantar Mantar 2.0”, if he does not step down within 48 hours.
Launching what it termed the “Election Commission Thik Karo” campaign, the youth-led outfit said the campaign would focus on the exclusion of more than 13 crore names from draft electoral rolls across 30 states and Union territories during the SIR exercise.
Speaking at a press conference here, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, flanked by its co-convener Saurav Das and spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, alleged that the electoral process had been “rigged” and the right to vote was being taken away from citizens.
“If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign within 48 hours, we will start a nationwide protest, before coming for a protest in Delhi,” Dipke said, adding that if the CEC doesn’t resign, “Jantar Mantar 2.0 will definitely happen”.
The CJP said if CEC Kumar does not resign, the party would launch a nationwide agitation followed by an indefinite sit-in in Delhi.
The remarks came a day after The Indian Express revealed that questions were repeatedly raised on issues related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls within the three-member Election Commission (EC) by two election commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
The party cited voter exclusions reported across several states during the SIR, including more than 2 crore names in Maharashtra, more than 2 crore in Uttar Pradesh, around 1 crore in Karnataka, 97 lakh in Tamil Nadu, 90 lakh in West Bengal, 73 lakh in Telangana, 47 lakh in Delhi, and 24 lakh in Kerala.
“Democracy means that people choose their government. This is not democracy, this is autocracy. Under Gyanesh Kumar, we are seeing an electoral system in which the Election Commission is deciding who remains on the voter rolls and who does not. When millions of names can disappear from draft rolls, the burden is on the Commission to establish that every exclusion is lawful, transparent and subject to meaningful review,” said Dipke.
Dipke also urged opposition parties not to participate in polls if they believe the elections are being rigged.
“We are in a difficult phase; the right to vote is being snatched… If you know elections are being rigged you cannot participate. You will have to take a stand,” Dipke said.
The CJP founder alleged that CEC Kumar was the “biggest threat to Indian democracy” and accused the EC of deciding who would be allowed to vote.
“Who is Gyanesh to revoke our right to vote?” he asked, calling for criminal proceedings against him.
The CJP presented three demands: the resignation of the poll panel chief, independent investigation into decisions taken during the SIR, including identification of officials who authorised disputed changes and directions; halting the SIR exercise and restoration of earlier voter rolls and transfer of all relevant SIR records and files to the Supreme Court or an independent judicially supervised inquiry; and reforms in the appointment of the CEC and ECs.
It also demanded that Election Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi publicly clarify their recorded objections and that the Election Commission publish the relevant objection notes and responses.
CJP co-convener Das alleged that steps are being taken to keep the young voters out, as the ruling party feels the ‘Gen Z’ is not supporting them.
“Today the youth are saying change is required. The right to vote is the only tool you can use to change your life, if that’s taken away how would the country progress?” Das said.
“Young people are being stopped from becoming voters… The system is totally hollow. This government feels Gen Z is not in its favour, so it is not adding them to the voters list,” he alleged.
CJP spokesperson Ranka appealed to the youth to come forward to save democracy.
“We need to hit the streets and fight for our right… Who is Gyanesh to revoke our right to vote,” he said.
“Youth, civil society, political parties, all have to come together to save this country… We want resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, criminal proceedings against him, and answer who gave Gyanesh the orders…” Ranka said.
