CJP leader calls for CEC resignation and protests at Shivaji Park

CJP founder Abhijit Dipke announced on Oct 1 that his party will protest at Mumbai's Shivaji Park on Oct 2, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and criminal charges against him. The group also wants the Special Intensive Revision roll frozen and the CEC appointment process opened to civil‑society participation. Dipke claimed 13 crore voter‑list deletions since 2024 and said the NDA‑India bloc gap was only 2 percent while 14 percent of vote share was removed. He warned that if Kumar does not step down, protesters will call for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation. The party plans similar rallies in six other cities, ending with a march to Jantar Mantar in New Delhi before the month ends. Dipke criticised electronic voting machines as hackable and urged paper ballots. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis warned of three days police custody for protesters; Dipke retorted he would accept three months. Mumbai police have not cleared the Shivaji Park protest, and the Bombay High Court is hearing petitions on the venue. The CJP rejected the designated Azad Maidan spot, insisting on Shivaji Park, and accused the Supreme Court of bias over West Bengal voting issues. ## Context The CEC oversees India’s elections, so calls for his resignation signal a challenge to the credibility of the electoral process. Protests at high‑profile spots like Shivaji Park aim to draw public attention and pressure authorities ahead of upcoming polls.