CJP stages Shivaji Park protest demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation; Dadar under heavy security

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced a protest demanding that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar resign. The protest is to be held at Shivaji Park ground in Mumbai at 4 pm on Friday. Ahead of it, the administration has deployed a large number of security personnel in the Shivaji Park area.

Police had refused the CJP permission to hold the protest. Even so, with the protest due at 4 pm, police and railway officials have deployed security forces at Dadar station and around the well-known ground in central Mumbai. Security arrangements are thus in place at both Dadar station and Shivaji Park.

An official said police contingents, including women personnel, and security teams from other agencies have been posted at key locations to prevent any untoward incident. Special police units and teams from other security agencies are stationed at Dadar railway station and around Shivaji Park. Barricades have been put up in large numbers on all the main roads leading to Shivaji Park ground, where vehicles and people are being checked.

Students, senior citizens and CJP supporters have begun gathering at the ground even before the scheduled time. They have come to Shivaji Park despite police opposition and the lack of permission. They have started raising slogans demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, and the protesters present are calling for him to step down.

A post appeared on the CJP's official X account on October 2, 2026. It reads "Mumbai is up to something!" and "Jai Maharashtra".

There is also a background to why the protest has been announced now. Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected at least 14 times in 10 months to decisions and orders related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. They had claimed that some of these orders were issued without their knowledge.

In response, the Election Commission had said that the three-member Commission took all decisions, including those related to the SIR, unanimously. Thus, two Election Commissioners make one claim, while the Commission says all decisions were taken unanimously.

Security remains tight around Dadar station and Shivaji Park, and all eyes are on the protest scheduled for 4 pm.