Full Breakdown
CJP Founder Calls for Opposition Boycott as Election Commission Faces Internal Objections
By Drooid · · How we work
The ultimatum and the “fixed-match” analogy
On September 25, 2026, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke used X to urge opposition parties to stop contesting elections he says are “rigged.” He argued that participation “legitimises” a flawed process and likened it to a fixed cricket match where only a few “crumbs” of victory are handed to preserve the illusion of competition. He demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar within 48 hours and warned of a nationwide “Jantar Mantar 2.0” agitation if the demand is not met.
Background and context
The CJP’s demand follows an investigation by *The Indian Express* that revealed internal dissent within the Election Commission of India (EC). Two Election Commissioners—Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi—recorded formal objections at least 14 times over ten months to decisions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The SIR exercise, intended to clean up voter lists, has been criticized for excluding more than 13 crore (130 million) names across 30 states and Union Territories, notably in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Telangana, Delhi and Kerala.
Data and statistics
- 14 documented objections by Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi.
- 13 crore voter names removed from draft rolls during SIR.
- State-wise exclusions cited by the CJP: over 2 crore in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 1 crore in Karnataka, 97 lakh in Tamil Nadu, 90 lakh in West Bengal, 73 lakh in Telangana, 47 lakh in Delhi, and 24 lakh in Kerala.
Official statements and responses
- Abhijeet Dipke issued the boycott call, resignation demand, and “Jantar Mantar 2.0” threat in a press conference and X posts.
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, also called for CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, citing “vote-chori” and alleging that the 2024 elections were being rigged.
Conflicting reports and gaps
Sources differ on whether the SIR decisions were truly unanimous. The EC’s press note maintains unanimity, while the Indian Express investigation cites the 14 objections as evidence of internal disagreement. No public record has yet been released showing how the objections were resolved or which officials authorised the contested roll changes. The EC has not provided an independent audit of the final roll numbers.
Verbatim quotes
- “If elections are being rigged, it should matter regardless of the state or which party is affected,” — Abhijeet Dipke
- “When you continue to participate in rigged elections, you legitimise these elections and help maintain the illusion that they are free and fair,” — Abhijeet Dipke
- “You cannot keep saying the game is rigged while continuing to play it,” — Abhijeet Dipke
What’s next
- The CJP has set a 48-hour deadline for CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation; failure to comply is expected to trigger the planned “Jantar Mantar 2.0” protests.
- A nationwide mobilisation is scheduled to begin on October 2, 2026, with rallies in multiple cities if the resignation does not occur.
- The party also demands that all SIR-related records be transferred to the Supreme Court or an independent judicially supervised inquiry, and that the upcoming January 2025 electoral rolls be secured pending review.
The dispute places the Election Commission’s internal decision-making under heightened public scrutiny while the CJP seeks to reshape the opposition’s electoral strategy through a boycott campaign.