Mumbai: Escalating opposition friction with the poll panel, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke announced on Wednesday that his party will launch a nationwide “Jail Bharo Andolan” starting from Mumbai's iconic Shivaji Park on October 2.

Speaking upon his arrival in the financial capital, Dipke argued that the Election Commission’s recent administrative conduct was failing to serve national interests and called on all political outfits to join the Gandhi Jayanti movement.

 

Opposition convergence over electoral roll audits

Dipke voiced deep concern regarding what he described as the “dictatorship” of the Election Commission, emphasising the necessity of a united front to push for institutional accountability.

Aligning with recent statements made by NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar regarding the alleged misuse of artificial intelligence in elections, Dipke urged cross-party cooperation to address growing vulnerabilities in the electoral framework.

The CJP’s civil disobedience call comes amidst mounting political friction over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists and persistent demands from opposition factions for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

 

Joint political front mobilises in Mumbai

The announcement comes as opposition forces consolidate their anti-EC demonstrations across Maharashtra. On Tuesday, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray jointly declared a mass protest rally scheduled for October 4, marching from Byculla to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters.

Detailing the October 4 march against the Election Commission, Raj Thackeray reiterated his party’s long-standing reservations over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and official oversight, “For several years, we have consistently raised questions regarding EVMs and the arbitrary actions of the Election Commission, yet no solution has been found so far. I would like to invite all parties to join this protest march.”

Extending explicit backing to Dipke’s upcoming agitation, the MNS chief added, “We will extend our full support to the CJP's ‘Jail Bharo’ movement.”

PTI