In India, CJP and students plan protests demanding election chief’s resignation — Channel NewsAsia

In India, the youth movement Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and a separate coalition of student and civic activists planned to hold protests on October 2 demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The CJP planned a rally in Mumbai and said it intended to expand demonstrations across the country. Student and civic groups were to gather near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Channel NewsAsia reports.

Dispute over voter lists

Protesters accuse the Election Commission of manipulating voter lists in favor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The commission and the government deny these allegations.

The dispute is linked to a nationwide voter verification process launched last year. Critics say it removed millions of eligible citizens from the lists. The Election Commission says the verification is intended to eliminate duplicates, records of deceased people or individuals not eligible to vote, and ensure the accuracy of the registers.

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Pressure on Gyanesh Kumar

Last month, the Indian Express reported that Kumar’s two deputies had formally raised concerns at least 14 times over the previous 10 months about the revision of voter lists, registration procedures, and the commission’s digital systems. The Election Commission responded that disagreements are a normal part of internal discussions and that all of its actions were lawful.

CJP coordinator Saurabh Das said the protest would continue until Kumar resigns. Opposition parties led by the Congress party also plan to begin actions with the same demand on October 6.

CJP was formed earlier this year amid youth dissatisfaction over unemployment and exam paper leaks. The movement, led by Abhijit Dipke, gained nationwide attention after mass protests over test leaks that led to the resignation of India’s education minister.