The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, giving him 48 hours to step down or face a nationwide agitation. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke made the announcement at a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday.
‘Nationwide Agitation If He Doesn’t Resign’
Addressing reporters, Dipke said that if Gyanesh Kumar does not resign within 48 hours, the CJP will begin protests across the country. He said the organisation would continue its agitation until Kumar resigns.
CJP Targets Election Commission Over SIR
The demand comes amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The CJP has alleged that the Election Commission's handling of voter-roll revisions has raised serious concerns about the electoral process.
These are allegations made by the organisation and have not been independently established.
Reports of Differences Within Poll Panel
The CJP's announcement followed reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on several occasions over electoral-roll decisions and other matters.According to reports, the two commissioners raised objections 14 times over a 10-month period.
CJP Announces Further Demands
Apart from demanding Kumar's resignation, the organisation has called for a halt to upcoming elections and a review of the SIR process. The CJP has also demanded an independent inquiry into decisions taken during the electoral-roll revision exercise.
EC Controversy Continues
The Election Commission has maintained that differences during internal discussions are part of the functioning of a multi-member constitutional body and has said that decisions on SIR were taken unanimously.
The latest confrontation adds another layer to the ongoing political debate over electoral-roll revisions and the functioning of the Election Commission.