The Cockroach Janta Party issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on September 24, 2026, threatening nationwide protests and a renewed Jantar Mantar demonstration over alleged rigging and voter rights suppression.
Cockroach Janta Party Issues Ultimatum and Agitation Warning in New Delhi
Political pressure mounted on the leadership of India’s election watchdog on Thursday, September 24, 2026, as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) launched a direct assault on the integrity of the voting process. Meeting with reporters in New Delhi, party founder Abhijeet Dipke demanded that Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar step down immediately, accusing him of undermining voter rights and stripping citizens of their constitutional franchise.
The political group set a strict deadline for the top election official, warning of widespread civil unrest if he remains in office. If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign within 48 hours, we will start a nationwide protest, before coming for a protest in Delhi, Dipke stated at the press conference, adding that Jantar Mantar 2.0 will definitely happen if the demands are ignored. Dipke alleged that 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 said, calling for criminal proceedings against him. Saying that, youth should come forward to save this nation, Mr. Dipke added, Who is Gyanesh Kumar to revoke our right to vote… we should all come forward.
Three-Point Demands Target Voter Rolls and Appointment Laws
During the briefing, CJP co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka outlined a stringent three-point list of demands focused heavily on the conduct of recent elections and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party called for immediate criminal proceedings against the Chief Election Commissioner alongside his resignation, while demanding that all upcoming polls be halted and pre-SIR voter rolls restored across all states.
The political formation also pressed for systemic legal changes to the oversight bodies handling national ballots.
- Immediate resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar and the launch of criminal proceedings against him.
- An immediate halt to all upcoming elections alongside the restoration of pre-Special Intensive Revision voter rolls.
- A repeal of the 2023 Act governing appointments for election commissioners, paired with a new civil-society-inclusive law.
The group also urged the Supreme Court to seize all files related to decision making concerning the Special Intensive Revision before records can be compromised or destroyed by the commission. Mr. Ranka said, independent inquiry commission should be constituted which will look into all proceedings of SIR so far. Supreme Court should seize all files related to decision making of SIR before they are destroyed by EC.
CJP’s third demand is the repeal the 2023 Act for appointments of CEC and other election commissioners. There should be a new law for it which involves the civil society groups,
he said.
Internal Commission Dissent Fuels Broader Controversy
The ultimatum lands amid widening friction within the election machinery itself. The public confrontation follows reporting from the previous day revealing that internal opposition has bubbled up directly inside the three-member Election Commission panel. Two commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, formally raised objections on record at least 14 times over a ten-month period—four times on a single day—questioning decisions and orders issued regarding the Special Intensive Revision without their collective knowledge, according to the report. The national rollout of the SIR has been under the supervision of all three commissioners.
Seizing on these internal fractures, Dipke also directed sharp criticism toward mainstream political formations, arguing that participation in elections under current conditions normalizes a compromised system. If you know elections are being rigged, you cannot participate, Dipke said, urging opposition parties to take a stand rather than lending legitimacy to disputed contests. Addressing the Opposition parties, he added that, if you know the election is rigged you should take a stand, you cannot both participate in the election and speak against rigging.