CEC row LIVE: CJP, Congress to organise separate protests today

Abhijeet Dipke, head of the Cockroach Janta Party, leaves after a press conference ahead of a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in Mumbai on October 1, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday (October 1, 2026) sought the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and warned of launching protests across the country, followed by a stir at Jantar Mantar in Delhi by October’s end if he did not step down.Read | What does the law say about CEC’s removal? | ExplainedMr. Dipke also said that the CJP would not join the Opposition’s protest against the poll body on October 6, and would remain an independent movement.Also Read | First time that so many eligible electors have lost their vote due to SIR: former CEC O.P. RawatOpposition parties have been critical of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanded his resignation after it came to light 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.Follow the LIVE for more updatesOctober 02, 2026 07:47 CJP founder Dipke detained briefly after being spotted with placards at Marine Drive: Police Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was briefly detained at Marine Drive police station after police spotted him with placards along the iconic promenade.Mr. Dipke had gathered at Marine Drive along with a group of supporters holding placards, an official said.“A team which included a woman inspector approached Dipke and escorted him to Marine Drive police station in a van. The woman officer asked him about his identity and hometown during the ride to the police station,” the official said.PTI Published - October 02, 2026 07:48 am IST