CJP protest highlights: Bollywood veterans, including Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Vishal Bhardwaj, participated in the CJP's Mumbai protest on Friday demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged discrepancies in the SIR processes.
9:59 PM IST, Oct 2This live blog is now closed
8:02 PM IST, Oct 2Dipke thanks Mumbai Police
7:59 PM IST, Oct 2Question of democracy, rights, voice, says Shabana Azmi
7:36 PM IST, Oct 2Your barricades won't be enough, says Dipke
7:35 PM IST, Oct 2Dipke says BJP won states it hadn't won even during peak Modi wave
7:27 PM IST, Oct 2Here to save Gandhi’s India, says CJP
7:21 PM IST, Oct 2Slogans demanding CEC's resignation raised at Shivaji Park
7:11 PM IST, Oct 2Saurav Das accuses Delhi Police of resorting to brutality
6:58 PM IST, Oct 2‘Akhha MUMBAI at Shivaji Park’, says CJP
6:35 PM IST, Oct 2Dipke's praise for Mumbai Police, dig at Delhi Police
6:30 PM IST, Oct 2CJP protest LIVE updates: Memes, slogans colour CJP protest against EC at Shivaji Park
6:25 PM IST, Oct 2Government so incompetent that we have to protest again in 2 months, says Dipke
6:23 PM IST, Oct 2Javed Akhtar's jibe at CJP protest critics
6:20 PM IST, Oct 2Dipke explains why CJP is holding Mumbai protest despite Jantar Mantar agitation outcome
6:11 PM IST, Oct 2Dipke’s fanboy moment with Naseeruddin Shah at CJP protest
5:54 PM IST, Oct 2Protest is our right, says Shabana Azmi
5:51 PM IST, Oct 2‘Dipke go back’ slogans raised at Mumbai's anti-CJP protest
5:48 PM IST, Oct 2CJP says Shivaji Park filled with ‘cockroaches’
5:40 PM IST, Oct 2Dipke dares Maharashtra CM Fadnavis
5:39 PM IST, Oct 2Actor Shabana Azmi joins Mumbai protest
5:37 PM IST, Oct 2Anti-CJP stir erupts parallelly in Mumbai
5:33 PM IST, Oct 2Dipke kickstarts ‘Season 2’ from Shivaji Park
5:22 PM IST, Oct 2Gandhi never dies, Godses will come and go, says Dipke at Mumbai protest
5:20 PM IST, Oct 2Massive crowd at Shivaji Park | WATCH
5:17 PM IST, Oct 2Vishal Dadlani joins protest
5:04 PM IST, Oct 2Thousands gather at Mumbai's Shivaji Park
4:58 PM IST, Oct 2Dipke arrives at protest site
4:48 PM IST, Oct 2Why is CJP holding a protest in Mumbai and not at Jantar Mantar again?
4:44 PM IST, Oct 2‘Mumbai shows up’, says Saurav Das as several join protest at Shivaji Park
4:29 PM IST, Oct 2Heavy police presence at Mumbai's Shivaji Park
4:17 PM IST, Oct 2Abhijeet Dipke expected to lead protest shortly
4:06 PM IST, Oct 2Saurav Das arrives at protest site
4:03 PM IST, Oct 2CJP protest at Shivaji Park expected to begin shortly
3:51 PM IST, Oct 2Cockroach Party lists 3 demands amid ECI ‘dissent’ row
3:39 PM IST, Oct 2Why is CJP protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar?
3:24 PM IST, Oct 2Shabana Azmi, Vishal Dadlani among celebrities likely to join protest
3:11 PM IST, Oct 2CJP announces Mumbai legal team, shares contacts for assistance
2:50 PM IST, Oct 2Protesters gather at Shivaji Park ahead of CJP's demonstration
2:43 PM IST, Oct 2Dipke reacts to objections raised by locals over protest at Shivaji Park
2:31 PM IST, Oct 2‘Step out Mumbai’, urges CJP ahead of protest
2:25 PM IST, Oct 2'Gyanesh Kumar is a traitor', says Dipke
2:03 PM IST, Oct 2Why was permission denied for CJP protest at Shivaji Park?
1:49 PM IST, Oct 2‘Mumbai, are you ready?’ asks Ranka ahead of stir
1:36 PM IST, Oct 2Heavy police presence at Shivaji Park
1:23 PM IST, Oct 2Javed Akhtar backs residents objecting to protest over ‘noise pollution’
1:09 PM IST, Oct 2Heavy police deployment at Mumbai's Shivaji Park
12:52 PM IST, Oct 2Residents raise objections to CJP's protest at Shivaji Park
12:48 PM IST, Oct 2‘Gyanesh, it's done bro’, says Saurav Das ahead of CJP protest
12:03 PM IST, Oct 2When and where will CJP hold a protest in Mumbai?
11:40 AM IST, Oct 2Visuals show preparations for CJP protest in Mumbai
11:33 AM IST, Oct 2Protests planned across Bengal, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand in coming days
10:56 AM IST, Oct 2Why is CJP demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation?
10:37 AM IST, Oct 2Shabana Azmi, Vishal Dadlani likely to join CJP protest
10:24 AM IST, Oct 2Not just Mumbai, Delhi to also hold protests against Gyanesh Kumar
9:46 AM IST, Oct 2What CJP said on Abhijeet Dipke's detention ahead of protest
9:22 AM IST, Oct 2No police permission for protest in Mumbai
8:56 AM IST, Oct 2‘We will end protest only when Gyanesh Kumar resigns’: Saurav Das
8:28 AM IST, Oct 2Ahead of Shivaji Park protest, railways strengthen security at Dadar station
8:11 AM IST, Oct 2CJP puts forward 3 demands ahead of Mumbai protest
8:05 AM IST, Oct 2Singer Vishal Dadlani to join CJP stir
7:42 AM IST, Oct 2CJP denies Abhijeet Dipke detention report, posts selfie
7:07 AM IST, Oct 2Dipke briefly detained at Mumbai's Marine Drive
CJP protest highlights: The Cockroach Janta Party 's(CJP) concluded its protest at Mumbai's Shivaji Park seeking resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Security forces were deployed in large numbers ahead of the protest. Bollywood veterans, including Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Vishal Bhardwaj, participated in the CJP's Mumbai protest on Friday demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged discrepancies in the SIR processes....
The demonstration is taking place at Gate No. 6 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park.
The CJP earlier called on citizens to join the protest, which will mark the beginning of a series of demonstrations and public mobilisation planned across the country through October. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the campaign would eventually culminate in a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Why is CJP demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation
CEC Gyanesh Kumar is at the centre of a controversy surrounding the Election Commission following an investigative report by The Indian Express that claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months regarding decisions and procedures related to the SIR exercise.
Dipke claimed that around 13 crore voters had been removed from electoral rolls since 2024. He linked the alleged deletions to the narrow vote-share gap between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He also argued that large-scale changes to voter lists could affect election results.
Rejecting the claims, the Election Commission on Saturday maintained that key decisions, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, were taken unanimously by the full commission.
'Gyanesh Kumar is a traitor'
Speaking at an interaction at the Mumbai Press Club, Dipke sought Kumar's resignation and warned that the CJP would continue its protests across the country if he does not step down.
"Gyanesh Kumar is a traitor. We will not move from Jantar Mantar until he resigns from his post. Gyanesh Kumar should resign and should face criminal charges," Dipke said.
The CJP leader also questioned the Mumbai Police's decision to deny permission for the protest. Dipke said that if Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis could hold a political rally at Shivaji Park, the CJP should also be allowed to stage a protest there.
"I am not afraid of going to jail. I will come back to protest again, again and again," the CJP leader said, reported PTI.
Protests across West Bengal, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and Goa
CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde said the campaign would be taken to several other cities, including Goa, Bengaluru, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Patna and Ranchi.
"Protests will be held in Goa, Bengaluru, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Patna and Ranchi. If Kumar does not resign, then a protest will be held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi from October end," Shinde said.
The movement has also said it will remain independent and will not join the Opposition's October 6 protest against the Election Commission.
Security stepped up at Dadar station
Meanwhile, railway authorities have stepped up security at Dadar station ahead of the proposed Shivaji Park protest.
Around 40 additional staff, including Railway Protection Force personnel, have been deployed at the station, a Central Railway spokesperson said. A Western Railway spokesperson said 50 additional staff and RPF personnel had been deputed.
Dadar is part of both the Western and Central Railway networks and is among Mumbai's busiest railway stations. It is also the closest major station to Shivaji Park.
Mumbai Police has denied permission for the proposed protest, citing restrictions governing gatherings at Shivaji Park, the absence of the required civic permission and concerns over traffic and the movement of emergency vehicles.
The CJP's protest comes amid criticism of the Election Commission over the SIR of electoral rolls. The controversy intensified after reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months to decisions and orders, some of which they said were issued without their knowledge.
The Election Commission has, however, said that the three-member poll panel took all decisions, including those concerning the SIR, unanimously.
This live blog is now closed
CJP protest LIVE updates: Dipke thanks Mumbai Police
CJP protest LIVE updates: CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke thanked the Mumbai Police while taking potshots at the Delhi Police for allegedly roughing up the protesters at Jantar Mantar. “Thank you, Mumbai Police, for your cooperation today. Salute to all the police personnel who were on duty! Jai Hind. Delhi Police, seekh lo kuch Mumbai Police se,” Dipke wrote on X.
CJP protest LIVE updates: Question of democracy, rights, voice, says Shabana Azmi
CJP protest LIVE updates: Veteran Bollywood actor Shabana Azmi on Friday attended the CJP protest at Mumbai's Shivaji Park where she said the issue of irregularities within the poll body involves questions about democracy, rights and voice.
" This is a question of our democracy. It is a question of our rights. It is a question of our voice. We have been told since childhood to cast our votes, claim our rights, and raise our voices. But when our fundamental right is snatched away or manipulated, what is a person supposed to do? Naturally, they will protest, and this "people's power" is unstoppable now. Once the spark is lit, you can see how it spreads; it is happening all across India...The names of thousands upon thousands of people have been removed from the lists...After today's protest, we will see if action is taken or if we have to keep fighting this battle. We have to fight the battle for as long as it takes," she said.
Shivaji Park protest LIVE updates: Your barricades won't be enough, says Dipke
Shivaji Park protest LIVE updates: CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke, while addressing a protest gathering against the Election Commission and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Mumbai on Friday, said a large number of people would arrive from across the country and that the barricades would not be enough.
“So many people will arrive that your barricades won’t be enough!” Dipke said while addressing the gathering.
Amid a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, Dipke alleged Delhi Police DCP Sachin Sharma was "Amit Shah’s favourite."
“Some police officers were telling me that this Sachin Sharma is a Sanghi. He is Amit Shah’s favourite. So I want to tell Sachin Sharma: if you are a Sanghi, wear khaki shorts (RSS uniform), don’t wear the police uniform!” he said.
Shivaji Park protest LIVE updates: Dipke says BJP won states it hadn't won even during peak Modi wave
Shivaji Park protest LIVE updates: After vote deletion, BJP won states it had not won even during peak Modi wave, claims Abhijeet Dipke at Mumbai protest
Shivaji Park protest LIVE updates: Here to save Gandhi’s India, says CJP
Shivaji Park protest LIVE updates: Wishing people on Gandhi Jayanti, the Cockroach Janta Party on Friday said that lakhs of people had taken to streets in Mumbai ‘to take on a fascist’
“They are here to save Gandhi’s India, and they mean it.” the CJP said.
CJP protest LIVE updates: Slogans demanding CEC's resignation raised at Shivaji Park
CJP protest LIVE updates: Slogans demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation were raised at jampacked Shivaji Park in Mumbai where the CJP is holding a protest over alleged irregularities in SIR.
CJP protest LIVE updates: Saurav Das accuses Delhi Police of resorting to brutality
CJP protest LIVE updates: Delhi Police has again resorted to brutality, improve or we will improve you: CJP leader Saurav Das at protest in Mumbai.
CJP protest LIVE updates: ‘Akhha MUMBAI at Shivaji Park’, says CJP
CJP protest LIVE updates: The Cockroach Janta Party shared pictures of packed Shivaji Park in Mumbai with the caption “Akhha MUMBAI is here at Shivaji Park!”. Massive crowd gathered at the Shivaji Park on Friday after CJP called for a protest demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over reports of alleged SIR irregularities.
CJP protest LIVE updates: Dipke's praise for Mumbai Police, dig at Delhi Police
CJP protest LIVE updates: CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke praised Mumbai Police and claimed that they told him that the movement is doing a ‘great job’. However, he slammed the Delhi Police and said that DCP Sachin Sharma assaulted the protesters. “Even today when our companions were protesting in Delhi, he had them dragged through the streets,” Dipke said.
CJP protest LIVE updates: Memes, slogans colour CJP protest against EC at Shivaji Park
A wall of police barricades and the severe heat failed to dampen the energy at Shivaji Park on Friday, as wave upon wave of young protesters gathered for the Cockroach Janta Party's agitation, wielding placards with satirical memes and film dialogues to target Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Waving tricolours alongside posters declaring "Gyanu, Tujha Democracy Var Bharosa Nay Kay?", "Gyanesh BRO, JUST RESIGN" and "Gaddaar Gyaanu Must Go", activists from groups such as Student Federation of India (SFI) and youngsters thronged the area.
CJP protest LIVE updates: Government so incompetent that we have to protest again in 2 months, says Dipke
CJP protest LIVE updates: Government is so incompetent that we have to protest again in two months: CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke at Shivaji Park.
CJP protest LIVE updates: Javed Akhtar's jibe at CJP protest critics
CJP protest LIVE updates: Lyricist Javed Akhtar on Friday questioned whether residents of Mumbai's Shivaji Park who objected to the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest over noise pollution would raise similar objections when a political party holds a jalsa at the venue.
Akhtar welcomed the residents’ concerns and their demand that authorities cancel the CJP protest, but suggested that the objections should be applied consistently to political gatherings as well.
“I am so happy that some residences of Shivaji park are getting sensitive about the noise pollution and asking the authorities to cancel the protest of CJP today at Shivaji park. I am hundred percent sure that they will raise the same objection with the same intensity if not more when ever there is any jalsa of any political party of Maharashtra is planned at Shivaji park,” he said in a post on X.
