New Delhi, October 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The INDIA bloc’s campaign against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities is gaining a wider political dimension, with some Opposition leaders reaching out to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to expand the movement beyond Parliament.
With the Opposition lacking the numbers to secure the passage of an impeachment motion against the CEC, several INDIA bloc constituents are seeking to build broader public mobilisation around allegations of electoral malpractice, particularly concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The CJP, which gained attention through its movement against the alleged NEET paper leak and irregularities in examination processes, has emerged as a prominent voice in protests over electoral issues. Its earlier campaign had also seen demands for the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
However, the INDIA bloc and the CJP continue to organise separate campaigns, with no formal joint movement or unified leadership announced. While some Opposition constituents have expressed support for the CJP’s protests, there have reportedly been no broader discussions within the INDIA bloc on formally including the organisation in its campaign.
The INDIA bloc has announced a week-long “Save Democracy” campaign, featuring district-level marches, demonstrations and a march by Opposition MPs to the Election Commission. The campaign seeks greater transparency in electoral-roll revisions and calls for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.
The CJP, meanwhile, has been organising its own demonstrations with demands that include the CEC’s resignation, a halt to the SIR exercise and reforms in the process of appointing Election Commission members.
The two campaigns have seen some overlap in participation, with CJP supporters reportedly present during a political rally attempt in Delhi, even as the organisation held a larger demonstration in Mumbai on Friday.
Earlier, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary M.A. Baby had contacted the CJP as part of efforts to bring Opposition parties together over concerns regarding the Election Commission’s functioning and its handling of the SIR exercise.
On September 26, Baby wrote to political parties across the political spectrum, seeking support for a broader campaign. He also reached out to the CJP, acknowledging that it was not a recognised political party and explaining the objective of building a wider platform involving political forces critical of what he described as the Election Commission’s “unilateral” and allegedly pro-government functioning.
The outreach reflects an effort by the CPI(M) leadership to engage with the CJP on a specific issue despite differences in political ideology and organisational structure.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) founder Mamata Banerjee has also expressed support for the CJP’s movement. While in Delhi for an INDIA bloc meeting, Banerjee was asked about possible coordination with the organisation. She referred to the participation of TMC MPs in earlier CJP protests against the paper leak issue at Jantar Mantar.
On Friday, Banerjee reiterated her support for the organisation while speaking to the media at an airport in Kolkata.
“We fully support the movements of the Cockroach Janata Party and the youth,” she said, adding that her party had also demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
The Congress, meanwhile, has continued to maintain its own leadership role in Opposition protests. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had held a flash protest with party colleagues outside the Prime Minister’s residence in July over the paper leak issue.
The Congress has supported the CJP’s demands, while its youth and student wings have also organised protests seeking Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
Within the INDIA bloc, the Congress remains the largest party in Parliament, despite political differences and the departure of parties such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) from the grouping.
Nearly 20 parties participated in the bloc’s meeting in Delhi. The Congress has 98 members in the Lok Sabha and 30 in the Rajya Sabha, giving it a larger parliamentary presence than other constituents of the alliance.
The Opposition’s efforts to coordinate on electoral issues come amid differing political priorities among regional parties and the broader challenge of sustaining a common campaign against the BJP-led government.
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